YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR

Doctor Appointments

How often you will need to see your doctor or talk to your doctor will depend on your individual situation. During an episode of depression or mania, your doctor may want to talk to you at least once a week, perhaps even once a day.

Preparing for Visits

First and foremost, make sure to keep your appointments. During visits with your health care professional, you will probably be asked a few questions about yourself and your treatment, if you are on one. Give the most complete and truthful answers possible. Having accurate information about what you have been experiencing will help your doctor develop the most appropriate treatment plan for you. Consider taking time before your appointment to write down your thoughts. Use these questions to ask your doctor to help prepare for your next appointment. Also, ask a family member or friend to join you if you tend to forget or if you need support.

Importance of Sticking With Your Treatment

It's normal to have occasional doubts about continuing bipolar disorder treatment, especially as your symptoms improve. Remember that bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness and your health care professional may have decided that medication is a necessary and important part of your treatment. You should not adjust your medication on your own, and you should talk to your doctor if you feel the need to stop taking it. Also, if you feel your treatment is not working or is causing side effects, talk to someone on your health care team right away.

Related Information

Is Seroquel XR right for you?

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Seroquel XR: Questions about treatment

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The information on this Web site should not take the place of talking with your doctor or health care professional. If you have any questions about your condition, or if you would like more information about Seroquel XR, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Only you and your health care professional can decide if Seroquel XR is right for you.

Important Safety Information and Indications for Seroquel XR

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss) treated with this type of medicine are at an increased risk of death, compared to placebo (sugar pill). Seroquel XR is not approved for treating these patients.

Antidepressants have increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults. Patients of all ages starting treatment should be watched closely for worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, unusual changes in behavior, agitation, and irritability. Families and caregivers should watch patients daily and report these symptoms immediately to the physician. Seroquel XR is not approved for patients under the age of 18 years.

  • High blood sugar and diabetes have been reported with Seroquel XR and medicines like it. If you have diabetes or risk factors such as obesity or a family history of diabetes, ask your doctor about checking your blood sugar before starting Seroquel XR and regularly throughout treatment. If you develop symptoms of high blood sugar or diabetes, such as excessive thirst or hunger, increased urination, or weakness, contact your doctor. Complications from diabetes can be serious and even life threatening
  • Increases in cholesterol and triglycerides, and weight gain have been reported with Seroquel XR
  • A rare, but potentially fatal, side effect reported with Seroquel XR and medicines like it is neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Tell your doctor if you have very high fever; rigid muscles; shaking; confusion; sweating; changes in pulse, heart rate, or blood pressure; or muscle pain and weakness because treatment should be stopped if you have NMS
  • Another serious side effect reported with Seroquel XR and medicines like it is tardive dyskinesia (TD)—uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, or other parts of the body. TD may become permanent, and the risk of TD is believed to increase as the length of time on and the amount of these medications increase. While TD can develop in patients taking low doses for short periods, this is much less common. There is no known treatment for TD, but it may go away partially or completely if treatment is stopped
  • Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have high prolactin levels or have a history of, or are at risk for, seizures or a low white blood cell (WBC) count. An eye exam for cataracts is recommended at the beginning of treatment and every 6 months thereafter
  • During treatment, tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or lightheaded upon standing, or if you have trouble swallowing
  • Suicidal thoughts or actions may occur; tell your doctor if you have thoughts about death or suicide
  • Since drowsiness has been reported with Seroquel XR, you should not participate in activities such as driving or operating machinery until you know that you can do so safely. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Seroquel XR because Seroquel XR increases the effects of alcohol. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated while taking Seroquel XR
  • Common side effects: The most common side effects are drowsiness, dry mouth, increases in cholesterol and triglycerides, constipation, upset stomach, dizziness, a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing, weight gain, increased hunger, tiredness, increases in blood sugar, difficulty speaking, and stuffy nose

This is not a complete summary of safety information. Please discuss the full Prescribing Information with your health care provider.

Indications

Seroquel XR is a once-daily tablet approved to treat acute depressive episodes in bipolar disorder; acute manic or mixed episodes in bipolar disorder alone or when added to lithium or divalproex; long-term maintenance of bipolar disorder when added to lithium or divalproex; and schizophrenia.

Click here to see Prescribing Information for Seroquel XR, including Boxed Warnings.

Please see the last page of the Prescribing Information for the Medication Guide.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Patient photos are intended to be representative of typical patients with bipolar disorder and are not of actual patients.

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