Seroquel XR side effects

It's best to be prepared for possible side effects you may experience while taking Seroquel XR. The most common side effects of Seroquel XR 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.

What important information should I know about Seroquel XR?

  • In elderly patients who have lost touch with reality due to dementia (confusion and memory loss), there is a higher risk of death with Seroquel XR and medicines like it. Seroquel XR is not approved for treating these patients
  • Antidepressants have been shown to increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults. Patients of all ages starting treatment should be watched closely by family members and caregivers, and any worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, or unusual changes in behavior, agitation, and irritability should be reported to their physician immediately. Seroquel XR is not approved for patients under the age of 18 years
  • The following have been reported with Seroquel XR and some medicines like it. Tell your doctor if you have
    • Excessive thirst or hunger, increased urination or weakness, as these may be signs of high blood sugar or diabetes
    • High cholesterol or triglycerides, or if you experience weight gain
    • Very high fever; rigid muscles; shaking; confusion; sweating; changes in pulse, heart rate, or blood pressure; or muscle pain and weakness as these may be a sign of a rare, but potentially fatal, side effect known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
    • Dizziness or lightheadedness—especially upon standing, when you start taking Seroquel XR or when your dosage changes
    • Uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, or other parts of the body, known as tardive dyskinesia (TD)
  • 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

What else should I know about taking Seroquel XR?

  • Seroquel XR Tablets should be
    • swallowed whole and should not be split, chewed, or crushed
    • taken in the evening
      • without food (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal) or
      • with a light meal (approximately 300 calories)
  • An eye exam for cataracts is recommended at the beginning of treatment and every 6 months thereafter
  • Tell your doctor if you have
    • thoughts about death or suicide
    • high prolactin levels
    • had a seizure or have risk factors for seizures, such as head injury or brain surgery
    • a history of a low white blood cell (WBC) count
    • diabetes or if there is a history of diabetes in your family
    • trouble swallowing
  • You may feel drowsy, especially when you first start taking Seroquel XR. Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel drowsy
  • While on Seroquel XR, you should
    • drink plenty of water to avoid becoming over-heated or dehydrated
    • avoid over-exercising
    • avoid drinking alcohol during treatment
    • notify your health care provider if you become pregnant or intend to become pregnant
    • not breast-feed
    • notify your health care provider if you are taking or plan to take any prescription or over-the-counter drugs
  • You may have dry mouth. It may help to suck on sugar-free hard candy or chew sugar-free gum and use a room vaporizer to add moisture to the air
  • Take Seroquel XR as prescribed by your doctor. You should contact your doctor immediately if you feel the need to stop treatment

Managing Some of the More Common Side Effects Associated with Seroquel XR

In General

  • Drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated or overheated
  • Avoid over-exercising
  • Avoid drinking alcohol during treatment
  • Notify your health care professional if you become pregnant or intend to become pregnant
  • Do not breast-feed
  • Notify your health care professional if you are taking or plan to take any prescription or over-the-counter drugs

Dizziness (or Lightheadedness)

  • Increase fluid intake
  • When getting up from lying down, take it easy; relax for a minute and then slowly sit up before standing
  • Sleep with your head slightly elevated

Drowsiness

  • Take Seroquel XR in the evening (for example, 3-4 hours before bedtime)
  • Get enough sleep at night and have a routine bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends
  • Avoid drinking alcohol
  • Keep alert by staying active during the day. A brisk walk is a good example

Dry Mouth

  • Drink plenty of water
  • It may help to suck on sugar-free hard candy or chew sugar-free gum and use a room vaporizer to add moisture to the air

Ask your health care professional about the most appropriate way to begin taking Seroquel XR. It may be possible to tailor therapy around your work schedule, for example, when you're at home for a couple of days. That way, your body has some time to begin adjusting to the new medication.

Check out these helpful tools for more information. The Thinking Forward™ program provides additional tools and resources designed to support you through your treatment. Sign up now.

Related Information

Helpful tip

glass of water Take once daily in the evening (for example, within 3-4 hours before bedtime).

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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