Seroquel tablets instructions for use – analogues – reviews – side effects

Seroquel has antipsychotic activity and is relatively better tolerated by other antipsychotics. It improves mood and can be used for severe depression.

Release form

https://seroquelinfo.com/ is produced exclusively in the form of coated tablets. The dosage of the drug is from 25 to 400 mg. There are long-acting forms, in this case after the name Seroquel it is written: “Prolong”.

Structure

The active substance of the drug is the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine. The dosage of the active substance is written on the package and corresponds to that of the drug. In addition to quetiapine, the composition includes excipients: lactose, cellulose, povidone and dyes in different proportions. The lower the dosage of the drug, the darker its shell.

Pharmachologic effect

The active substance of Seroquel – quetiapine – is a brain catecholamine receptor blocker. It has a greater affinity for serotonin and histamine receptors, and to a lesser extent for dopamine and adrenaline receptors. The main point of application of the drug is the neurons of the mesolimbic system of the brain.

The mesolimbic system is the least studied among all brain structures. It was established that she is responsible for mood, memories and can produce hallucinations. The more catecholamines in the neurons of this system, the greater the risk of developing productive symptoms of mental disorders and manic states. Quetiapine disrupts the transmission of catecholamine mediators in neurons of the brain, suppressing productive symptoms.

The positive effect of the drug on mood, like all atypical antipsychotics, is explained by a greater suppression of serotonin than dopamine receptors. The less serotonin in the mesolimbic system, the more dopamine in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex. Such a slight increase in it does not cause a relapse of hallucinations, but it can cope with the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and signs of depression. Therefore, Seroquel helps improve mood and can be used for severe depression.

Indications for use

The use is justified in the following cases:

  • An established diagnosis of schizophrenia, regardless of the form and severity of the disease;
  • Major depressive disorder;
  • Recurrent depressive disorder, severe episode of depression;
  • Bipolar affective disorder, depressive or manic episode;
  • Depression with a psychotic component;
  • Pathologically reduced mood in organic diseases of the brain;
  • For prophylactic purposes during remission in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, provided that the treatment was carried out with the same drug.

Contraindications

Use is contraindicated in the following cases:

  • Individual intolerance to Seroquel or its components;
  • Lactase deficiency;
  • Reception in conjunction with macrolides, azoles, iproniazide derivatives;
  • Childhood.

Precautions are prescribed to women during pregnancy and lactation. The risk of developing fetal and infant pathologies has not been investigated.

Side effects

Since the mechanism of action of Seroquel involves the shutdown of all catecholamine receptors, it often causes side effects. The most common of these is drowsiness. It is observed in almost all patients in the first two weeks of taking the medicine, and then disappears. Less commonly on the part of the nervous system are reactions such as dizziness, headache, shakiness when walking, orthostatic collapses.

In addition, a typical manifestation is short-term dry mouth. Less commonly observed are nausea, vomiting, and constipation. From the side of the cardiovascular system, arrhythmias and a rapid heartbeat sometimes occur. Possible rhinitis and short-term visual impairment. Some patients experience transient changes in laboratory parameters: an increase in liver transaminases, hyperglycemia, a decrease in white blood cells and platelets, and a decrease in blood coagulation.

Overdose

Increasing the dose of Seroquel increases the likelihood of side effects. Most often, signs of intoxication due to overdose are inhibition of consciousness, tachycardia, various types of heart rhythm disturbance, persistent decrease in blood pressure. Isolated cases of coma are described when exceeding the permissible dose several times.

The risk of life-threatening conditions is increased in patients with cardiovascular and liver failure, as well as in the elderly.

There is no specific antidote. In case of an overdose of the drug, a set of standard measures is carried out: gastric lavage, enema, the appointment of sorbents. The patient is hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

Dosage regimen

The dosage of Seroquel depends on the reason for its appointment and the individual characteristics of the body. With schizophrenia on the first day of treatment, 50 mg of the drug are prescribed, which are divided into two doses. The following days, the dosage is increased by 2 times. On the fourth day, 300 mg are given and the effect is observed. In the absence of it, the dosage is increased to 400 mg, in case of side effects – reduced. They are similarly applied in the treatment of depressive diseases.

In the treatment of bipolar disorder, the starting dose of Seroquel is 100 mg. It is increased every day by 100 mg until the fourth day inclusive. Then they stop at the most optimal dosage regimen for a particular patient.

The maximum allowable daily dose of Seroquel is 800 mg.

Instructions for use

Seroquel, regardless of dosage, is taken twice a day – morning and evening. This is due to the fact that the duration of the usual drug is 12 hours. At the same time, his dose in the blood reaches a maximum 1.5 hours after administration.

Seroquel Prolong is taken once a day, since its duration is 24 hours. The maximum dose in the blood is reached after 6 hours. It is at the time of peak dose that side effects can be expected.

Instructions for use of the tablet form: it is recommended to take after meals with a little water.

According to post-marketing studies, Seroquel is not addictive.

However, its abrupt cancellation leads to the development of a number of pathological conditions. The latter are called withdrawal syndrome. It is manifested by nausea, vomiting, headache, insomnia and hyperkinesia. In order to avoid withdrawal, Seroquel is stopped taking gradually reducing the dose.

Analogs

A sample list of Seroquel analogues that include the same drug substance:

  • Quetiapine;
  • Kvetiapin Prolong;
  • Quentiax;
  • Quetiron;
  • Ketilept;
  • Victoel;
  • Hedonin;
  • Ketiap;
  • Nantharide.

The first two funds from the list are named for the active substance, the rest have trade names. Differences in medicines are in the composition of excipients, the speed of the onset of the effect and the duration of the action. The price of new generation drugs, including Seroquel, in pharmacies is slightly higher than analogues.

Reviews taking the drug

Ekaterina K .: “I suffer from a mental disorder for a long time. I tried many antipsychotics for treatment, including the precursors of Seroquel. I came to the conclusion that this drug really has greater effectiveness compared to analogues. The first time I drank the minimum dose at night and slept very soundly. The next day, I calmly got to work and felt great. After the systematic use of the medicine, my life ceased to seem gloomy, I became more assiduous and calm. ”

Savely M .: “I can’t say whether this drug was suitable for me. I have a recurrent depressive disorder with frequent severe episodes. Neuroleptics have been prescribed to me recently and it’s hard to say how I feel about them. Seroquel helped to cope with low mood and suicidal thoughts, but I constantly want to sleep. You can take him in the hospital and he helps, but I can’t do anything at home – it puts me to sleep. ”

Responses of doctors: “Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic of a new generation. Before the advent of drugs of this class, the question of the treatment of depression and productive symptoms was acute. The agents used to treat a decreased mood exacerbated hallucinations, and depression arose in the treatment of schizophrenia. Seroquel in such cases is the medicine of choice. He fights simultaneously with production and depression, which is very important for some patients. ”

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