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Is Seroquel Used For Bipolar Disorder

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What Special Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Seroquel for Bipolar Disorder

Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.

You should know that you may gain weight while you are taking this medication. Talk to your doctor about ways to control weight gain, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising. You and your doctor should check your weight regularly while you are taking quetiapine.

Be sure to drink plenty of water every day while you are taking this medication.

Pharmacist Tips For Quetiapine

Quetiapine can raise your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar regularly to make sure that it’s not too high.

Quetiapine can cause a drop in blood pressure when moving positions such as from sitting to standing. This is more common at the start of treatment or when the dose is changed. Be careful changing positions when you first start taking this medication to prevent from falling and hurting yourself.

Quetiapine can raise cholesterol levels in your blood and can cause weight gain. A well-balanced diet and regular exercise can help keep you healthy. Your provider may also want to do regular blood tests to make sure your cholesterol levels aren’t too high.

The short acting form of quetiapine can be taken with or without food. However, the long-acting form of quetiapine needs to be taken on an empty stomach or with a very light meal. A large or heavy meal can affect how well the extended-release form of quetiapine works.

Prices for quetiapine start at just $3.90 with a GoodRx coupon. Theyâre fast, easy-to-use and free!

Can I Take Quetiapine If I Am Pregnant Or Breastfeeding

Pregnancy

When deciding whether to take quetiapine during pregnancy it is important to weigh up how necessary quetiapine is to your health against the possible risks to you or your baby, some of which will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are.

Quetiapine is not seen as high risk and has a low rate of transfer across the placenta into a baby.

There does not appear to be an increased risk of malformations, miscarriages or having a baby born early.

From month four of a pregnancy onwards, an increase in dose of quetiapine may be required to keep body levels the same.Quetiapine may slightly increase your chance of getting high blood pressure linked to pregnancy , putting on extra weight and gestational diabetes.

To reduce the chance of a blood clot in your leg you may be advised to have a course of blood-thinning injections. Your doctor can advise you about this.

Post-natal

If you take quetiapine close to delivery your baby may have some side effects or discontinuation symptoms, like being irritable, crying or problems feeding and sleeping. These are usually mild and go away within a few days without treatment.

Breastfeeding

Quetiapine is passed in small amounts to the baby through breast milk. Breastfeeding may help with any discontinuation symptoms.

You should discuss the risks and benefits of breastfeeding with your midwife or doctor.

Make sure that your doctor, nurse, or health visitor checks your baby for any side effects.

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What Other Medications Interact With Seroquel

Some drugs interact with Seroquel. They may worsen the side effects of Seroquel, or Seroquel may worsen their side effects.

When taken together, Seroquel may enhance the effects of antihypertensive medications. It can also antagonize the effects of levodopa and dopamine agonists. Your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage if you are taking potent CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors.

Avoid the following drugs while taking Seroquel:

  • Astepro

Risperdal, Clozaril, Geodon, and Latuda treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and depression symptoms. Risperdal and Seroquel have similar results and side effects.

All antipsychotic drugs cause sleepiness. Clozaril and Seroquel are some of the most sedating ones. Clozaril works better but has more side effects than Seroquel.

Geodon causes less weight gain, glucose abnormalities, and hyperlipidemia than Seroquel. Latuda also causes less weight gain but more Parkinson’s symptoms than Seroquel.

This is NOT a list of drugs recommended to take with Seroquel. You should not take these drugs together. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you have any questions.

Efficacy Against Depressive Symptoms

Low dose Seroquel (quetiapine) for agitation or insomnia: Questions ...

Regulatory approval of quetiapine monotherapy for bipolar depression was primarily based on two similar randomized controlled trials known by the acronyms BOLDER I and II. Both of these 8-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies compared two doses of quetiapine 300 mg per day and 600 mg per day. Both studies used once daily dosing and the same rapid titration schedule, with maximum study dose achieved by the 8th day of treatment. Both studies included patients with bipolar I and bipolar II depressive episodes and allowed otherwise eligible patients with histories of rapid cycling to enroll. Both studies used change in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale total score as the primary endpoint. Together, the BOLDER I and BOLDER II studies represent the largest placebo-controlled data set to date that includes patients with bipolar I and bipolar II depressions.

BOLDER I enrolled 542 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for a current episode of bipolar I or bipolar II depression, according to DSM-IV criteria . In order to enter the study, outpatients had to score at least 20 on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale , as well as have a score of at least 2 on HAM-D item 1 . Pretreatment MADRS scores indicated that the unmedicated study group presented with moderate-to-severe levels of depressive symptoms .

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Can I Drink Alcohol And Take Street Drugs While Taking Quetiapine

Alcohol

You can continue to drink alcohol while taking quetiapine, but having the two together might make you very sleepy.

During the first few days, it might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you.

If you want to drink alcohol, remember that you might be sleepy and make sure you can get home safely.

Street drugs

Some street drugs can increase levels of dopamine in the brain . As antipsychotics block the effects of dopamine, the ‘high’ from street drugs may not be as ‘high’ as before. You may therefore be tempted to increase the dose of your street drug to make up for it, but this could be dangerous.

Cannabis and other drugs may have their own side effects on your mental health, like anxiety or psychosis. For more information, have a look at our drugs and alcohol page.

Some street drugs can make you feel sleepy and this could be made worse with quetiapine.

Quetiapine can enhance the effects of some street drugs and has itself been abused for this purpose. Do not share your quetiapine with anyone else.

Side Effects Of Seroquel Medication

Yes, there are the usual suspects:

Chills/sweats Dizziness Sedation Confusion Blurred vision Tummy upsets Uncontrolled movements Drooling .

However, Seroquel is particularly notorious for causing a lot of weight gain and increasing the amount of sugar in the bloodstream.

It may also increase cholesterol and fats in the blood.

According to Defective Drugs:

In 2004, four medical societies named Seroquel as one of six anti-psychotic drugs that promote diabetes, obesity or high cholesterol.

In Februarys issue of the journal, Diabetes Care, the American Diabetes Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists warned that Seroquel users should be watched carefully to ensure that they are not developing diabetes.

Additionally, doctors prescribing Seroquel should screen patients carefully for a history of obesity and diabetes in the patient and family, as well as the patients weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Seroquel manufacturers AstraZeneca have been requested by US regulators to include warnings about the risk of elevated blood sugar and diabetes.

However, Seroquel monotherapy is effective for bipolar I or II major depression, based upon multiple meta-analyses of randomized trials that compared quetiapine with placebo.

One study found that Seroquel in the treatment of bipolar depression has the following effects

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Efficacy In Patient Subgroups

Since the patient populations enrolled in the BOLDER studies included individuals with both bipolar I and bipolar II depression, and those with and without a rapid-cycling disease course, the results of the BOLDER trials were examined to determine if quetiapine was particularly effective or ineffective in various patient subgroups. Although there are important differences between bipolar I and bipolar II disorders , demonstration that a novel treatment is comparably effective across the subgroups could greatly simplify clinical management. The combined BOLDER data set shows that both bipolar I and bipolar II patient groups exhibited significant improvements in MADRS total score following treatment with either dose of quetiapine compared with placebo .

Least mean squares change from baseline in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale total score in outpatients with bipolar I or II disorder .

Quetiapine Versus Other Treatments

Seroquel Side Effects (Quetiapine) | What To Expect | Bipolar Disorder

Quetiapine versus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Monotherapy

The Efficacy of Monotherapy Seroquel in BipOLar DEpressioN II study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine monotherapy compared with paroxetine monotherapy and placebo.25 It was found that the decrease in MADRS scores in the quetiapine group was significantly greater than that in the paroxetine group. However, the dose of paroxetine used in the study was relatively low, at 20 mg/day. The efficacy of paroxetine might be higher at a higher dose. The proportions of participants having at least one adverse event were similar among the three groups, at 65.8%, 70.1%, and 69.4% for quetiapine 300 mg/day, quetiapine 600 mg/day, and paroxetine, respectively. Nevertheless, the proportion of participants having at least one serious adverse event was higher in the paroxetine group compared with the quetiapine 300 mg/day and 600 mg/day groups, at 7.4%, 0.4%, and 3.7%, respectively.25

Combination therapy

Quetiapine versus lithium

Quetiapine versus quetiapine plus lithium

Quetiapine versus psychotherapy

Quetiapine extended release versus quetiapine immediate release

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What Other Drugs Will Affect Seroquel

Seroquel can cause a serious heart problem if you use certain medicines at the same time, including certain antibiotics, antidepressants, heart rhythm medicine, antipsychotic medicines, and medicines to treat cancer, malaria, HIV or AIDS. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Seroquel.

Taking Seroquel with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Many drugs can interact with quetiapine. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

  • antibiotic or antifungal medicines

Dosage For Major Depression In People Already Taking Antidepressants

Extended-release tablets

Adult dosage

  • Typical starting dosage:
  • Days 1 and 2: 50 mg once daily.
  • Day 3: 150 mg once daily.
  • Dosage increases: Your doctor may change your dosage, within the recommended range of 150300 mg once per day.
  • Maximum dosage: 300 mg once daily.
  • Senior dosage

    Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body. Your doctor may start you at a dosage of 50 mg daily. They may later increase it, adding 50 mg to your daily dose. The dosage may be increased at a slower rate, and a lower total daily dose may be used to lessen the risk of side effects.

    Child dosage

    It hasnt been confirmed that quetiapine is safe and effective to use for this purpose in children younger than 18 years.

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    Interactions That Can Make Your Drugs Less Effective

    • When quetiapine is less effective: When quetiapine is used with certain drugs, it may not work as well to treat your condition. This is because the amount of quetiapine in your body may be decreased. If you take these drugs with quetiapine, your doctor may increase your quetiapine dosage. Examples of these drugs include:
    • Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin or carbamazepine
    • Rifampin
    • St. Johns wort
  • When other drugs are less effective: When certain drugs are used with quetiapine, they may not work as well. Examples of these drugs include:
  • Parkinsons disease medications such as levodopa, pramipexole, or ropinirole. Quetiapine may block the effects of your Parkinsons medications. This may cause an increase in your symptoms of Parkinsons disease.
  • Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

    This drug comes with several warnings.

    What Are The Main Differences Between Abilify Vs Seroquel

    Seroquel for mental health conditions like bipolar and schizophrenia

    Abilify is a prescription medication belonging to a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. Abilify is used in the treatment of mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, among others. Abilify has both partial agonist and antagonist activity at serotonin and dopamine receptors. Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters known to play a role in many roles such as mood, disposition, agitation, sleep, movement, and digestion. Through its role at these receptors, Abilify is able to decrease the severity of symptoms related to depression and other mental health disorders. Abilify is available in multiple doses as an oral tablet and solution, an oral disintegrating tablet, an injection, and the newest formulation, Abilify MyCite. Abilify MyCite is an oral tablet with a built-in sensor to help monitor if and when you take your medication, your mood, and other factors through an app.

    Seroquel is also a prescription medication belonging to the class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. Seroquel only has antagonist effects on the serotonin and dopamine pathways. It is also used for major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, like Abilify. Seroquel is available in a variety of dosages in both immediate-release and extended-release oral tablets.

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    Will Quetiapine Affect My Sex Life Or Fertility

    Quetiapine can have side effects that might affect your sex life. These should pass within a couple of weeks. If not, go back and see your doctor as there are other medications you can try.

    Sexual side effects are rare but can include:

    • not feeling like you want to have sex
    • swelling of the breasts and some milk flow, regardless of gender
    • changes to your period
    • getting a painful erection that could last a long time . If this happens to you, seek medical advice immediately as it is dangerous

    Fertility

    Extrapyramidal Symptoms Adverse Reactions Of Seroquel Xr In Acute Manic Episodes Of Bipolar Disorder1

    PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS WITH ADVERSEREACTIONS POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH EPS1,f
    1.3% 2.0%

    fData from a 3-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in the treatment of patients with manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I.

    Patients with the following terms were counted in respective categories:

    gNuchal rigidity, hypertonia, dystonia, muscle rigidity, oculogyration.

    hCogwheel rigidity, tremor, drooling, hypokinesia.

    iAkathisia, psychomotor agitation.

    jRestlessness, extrapyramidal disorder, movement disorder.

    • Tardive Dyskinesia : TD, a potentially irreversible syndrome of involuntary dyskinetic movements, may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. The risk of developing TD and the likelihood that it will become irreversible are believed to increase as the duration of treatment and total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs administered to the patient increase. Although much less commonly, TD can develop after relatively brief treatment periods at low doses or even after treatment discontinuation. TD may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn. SEROQUEL XR should be prescribed in a manner that is most likely to minimize the occurrence of TD, and discontinuation should be considered if signs and symptoms of TD occur

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    Interactions That Increase Your Risk Of Side Effects

    • Increased side effects from other drugs: Taking quetiapine with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from those drugs. Examples of these drugs include:
    • Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide or lorazepam. You may have increased drowsiness.
    • Muscle relaxants such as baclofen, cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, tizanidine, carisoprodol, or metaxalone. You may have increased drowsiness.
    • Pain medications such as morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, hydrocodone, tramadol, or codeine. You may have increased drowsiness.
    • Antihistamines such as hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, or brompheniramine. You may have increased drowsiness.
    • Sedative/hypnotics such as zolpidem or eszopiclone. You may have increased drowsiness.
    • Barbiturates such as phenobarbital. You may have increased drowsiness.
    • Antihypertensives such as amlodipine, lisinopril, losartan, or metoprolol. Your blood pressure may be lowered even more.
  • Increased side effects from quetiapine: Taking quetiapine with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from quetiapine. This is because the amount of quetiapine in your body may be increased. If you take these drugs with quetiapine, your doctor may decrease your quetiapine dosage. Examples of these drugs include:
  • Antifungal drugs, such as ketoconazole or itraconazole
  • HIV drugs such as indinavir or ritonavir
  • Antidepressants such as nefazodone or fluoxetine
  • Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Medication For Bipolar Disorder

    Seroquel XR, A Medication to Treat Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder in Adults – Overview

    Avoid antidepressants. The treatment for bipolar depression is different than for regular depression. In fact, antidepressants can actually make bipolar disorder worse or trigger a manic episode. Try mood stabilizers first and never take antidepressants without them.

    Take advantage of natural mood stabilizers. Your lifestyle can have a huge impact on your symptoms. If you make healthy daily choices, you may be able to reduce the amount of medication you need. Mood stabilizers that dont require a prescription include keeping a strict sleep schedule, exercising regularly, practicing relaxation techniques, and developing a solid support system.

    Add therapy to your treatment plan. Research shows that people who take medication for bipolar disorder tend to recover much faster and control their moods better if they also get therapy. Therapy gives you the tools to cope with lifes difficulties, monitor your progress, and deal with the problems bipolar disorder is causing in your personal and professional life.

    Need to talk to someone?

    Get affordable online counseling from BetterHelp or visit HelpGuides directory for free helplines and crisis resources. HelpGuide is reader supported. We may receive a commission if you sign up for BetterHelp through the provided link. Learn more.

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