Seroquel

What is it?

An anti-psychotic preparation available as film-coated, tablets in 4 strengths, all containing quetiapine as fumerate. Peach tablets contain 25mg; yellow, contain 100mg; light yellow, marked with strength and tablet name, contain 150mg; white, contain 200mg.

Medical Uses

Schizophrenia.

Dosage

Adults, start with 50mg on 1st day, 100mg on 2nd day, 200mg on 3rd day, 300mg on 4th day. All in 2 divided doses taken with or without meal. Then adjust according to individual response to dose usually in order of 300 to 450mg each day with a daily maximum of 750mg. Elderly patients should start with 25mg once each day, gradually increasing in increments of 25 to 50mg, if necessary, according to individual patient response.

Special Care

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, previous heart, circulatory disease or cerebrovascular disorders, liver or kidney disorders, epilepsy, low blood pressure.

Avoid Use

Children.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Barbiturates, depressants of CNS, rifampicin, erythromycin, drugs prolonging QT interval (part of ECG), thioridazine, phenytoin, ketoconazole, carbamazepine.

Known Side Effects

Abnormalities affecting liver enzymes, dizziness, sleepiness, low blood pressure on rising upright, dry mouth, constipation. Stop drug if tar- dive dyskinesia (abnormal, involuntary, repetitive muscle movements) or neuroleptic malignant' syndrome (altered state of consciousness) occur. In rare cases, priapism (abnormal, persistent painful erection of penis), fluid retention in peripheries.

Manufacturer

Astrazeneca.