Seroquel. Anybody taking this?

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
a friend of mine went to her doc yesterday for the depression she has since her husband died. he gave her samples of Seroquel and i just looked up the info on this drug.

holy crap, this is some powerful and nasty stuff. im not a Doc but from the info below i dont think its the apporpriate drug for her.

Why is this drug prescribed?

Seroquel combats the symptoms of schizophrenia, a mental disorder marked by delusions, hallucinations, disrupted thinking, and loss of contact with reality. It is the first in a new class of antipsychotic medications. Researchers believe that it works by diminishing the action of dopamine and serotonin, two of the brain's chief chemical messengers.

Most important fact about this drug

Seroquel may cause tardive dyskinesia--a condition characterized by uncontrollable muscle spasms and twitches in the face and body. This problem can be permanent, and appears to be most common among older adults, especially women.

Call your doctor immediately or seek medical attention if you experience fever, sweating, severe muscle stiffness (rigidity), confusion, fast or irregular heart beats. These could be symptoms of a potentially fatal side effect called Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS).

What side effects may occur?


Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Seroquel.


More common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, constipation, diminished movement, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, excessive muscle tone, headache, indigestion, low blood pressure, nasal inflammation, neck rigidity, rapid heartbeat, rash, tremor, uncontrollable movements, weakness


Less common side effects may include:
Back pain, cough, difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking, ear pain, fever, flu, loss of appetite, palpitations, sore throat, sweating, swelling, weight gain



Other antipsychotic medications have been known to interfere with the body's temperature-regulating mechanism, causing patients to overheat. Although this problem has not occurred with Seroquel, caution is still advisable. Avoid exposure to extreme heat, strenuous exercise, and dehydration.






 

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,127
6
81
My eldest son has been taking seroquel (and lamictal) since last October. He's bipolar/ODD (among other things), and he's not got a mild case either. His doctors say it's bad now due to puberty and he's likely to mellow out alot in a few years and may not even need meds.

I have to say this, his meds WORK. He's had no side affects aside from sleepiness on rare occassions. He's not tried to kill himself or hurt someone else since he went on it. And he's much happier and pleasant to be around now. Basically, I have my son back. Most of 2004 I didn't know if he was going to make it. :(