Bipolar depression symptoms

Depressive symptoms can be more disabling than manic symptoms

When you're dealing with the symptoms of bipolar depression, it's easy to feel like you're consumed by the condition or simply fading into the background. That's because for some patients with bipolar disorder, the depressive symptoms, also called bipolar depression, can be more disabling than the manic symptoms.

According to the DSM-5,* a medical reference commonly used by health care professionals to aid in diagnosis, bipolar depression consists of many of the following symptoms, occurring for at least two weeks:

  • Depressed mood most of the day; feeling sad or empty, tearful
  • Significant loss of interest or pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable
  • Significant weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain; decrease or increase in appetite
  • Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
  • Agitation or slowing down of thoughts and reduction in physical movements
  • Fatigue or loss of energy
  • Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
  • Poor concentration or having difficulty making decisions
  • Thinking about death or suicide
*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.

Important Safety Information About SEROQUEL XR® (quetiapine)Read More +

  • 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...
Treating bipolar disorder >
US-25490; US-40332; US-45751 Last Updated 10/20

Important Safety Information About SEROQUEL XR® (quetiapine)


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. Patients, families, and caregivers should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed. These symptoms should be reported immediately to the doctor. SEROQUEL XR is not approved for children under the age of 10 years.

    Do not take SEROQUEL XR if you are allergic to quetiapine or any of the ingredients in SEROQUEL XR.

    Stroke that can lead to death can happen in elderly people with dementia who take medicines like SEROQUEL XR.

    Stop SEROQUEL XR and call your doctor right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms: high fever; excessive sweating; stiff muscles; confusion; changes in pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure. These may be symptoms of a rare, but very serious and potentially fatal, side effect called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

    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, your doctor should check your blood sugar before you start taking SEROQUEL XR and also during therapy. 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 triglycerides and in LDL (bad) cholesterol and decreases in HDL (good) cholesterol have been reported with SEROQUEL XR. Your doctor should check your cholesterol levels before you start SEROQUEL XR and during therapy.

    Weight gain has been reported with SEROQUEL XR. Your doctor should check your weight regularly.

    Tell your doctor about any movements you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts, as they may be signs of a serious condition called tardive dyskinesia (TD). TD may not go away, even if you stop taking SEROQUEL XR. TD may also start after you stop taking SEROQUEL XR.

    Other risks include feeling dizzy or lightheaded upon standing, falls (which may cause serious injuries), trouble swallowing, or decreases in white blood cells (which can be fatal). Fever, flu-like symptoms, or any other infection could be a result of a very low white blood cell count. Tell your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you experience any of these.

    Increases in blood pressure have been reported with SEROQUEL XR in children and adolescents. Your doctor should check blood pressure in children and adolescents before starting SEROQUEL XR and during therapy.

    Before starting treatment, tell your doctor about all prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking. Also tell your doctor if you have or have had low white blood cell count, seizures, abnormal thyroid tests, high prolactin levels, heart or liver problems, trouble emptying your bladder, enlarged prostate, constipation, increased pressure inside your eyes, or cataracts. An eye exam for cataracts is recommended at the beginning of treatment and every 6 months thereafter.

    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 becoming overheated or dehydrated while taking SEROQUEL XR. Do not drink alcohol while taking SEROQUEL XR.

    Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Avoid breastfeeding while taking SEROQUEL XR.

    The most common side effects in adults are drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, increased appetite, upset stomach, weight gain, fatigue, difficulty moving, and disturbance in speech or language, and stuffy nose. The most common side effects in children and adolescents are drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, stuffy nose, increased appetite, upset stomach, vomiting, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, and weight gain.

    Do not stop taking SEROQUEL XR without talking to your doctor. Stopping SEROQUEL XR suddenly may cause side effects.

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

Approved Uses

SEROQUEL XR is a once-daily tablet approved in adults for (1) add-on treatment to antidepressants for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who did not have an adequate response to antidepressant therapy; (2) acute depressive episodes in bipolar disorder; (3) acute manic or mixed episodes in bipolar disorder alone or with lithium or divalproex; (4) long-term treatment of bipolar disorder with lithium or divalproex; and (5) schizophrenia. SEROQUEL XR is also approved for (6) acute manic episodes in bipolar disorder in children and adolescents ages 10-17 years; and (7) for schizophrenia in adolescents ages 13-17 years.

Please read the Medication Guide and full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS.

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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 SEROQUEL XR, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Only you and your health care professional can decide if SEROQUEL XR is right for you.