The XR in SEROQUEL XR stands for extended-release. This means that medicine is delivered around the clock. SEROQUEL XR is taken once daily as prescribed by your health care professional.

Take SEROQUEL XR by mouth, with a light meal or without food. SEROQUEL XR tablets should be swallowed whole and not split, chewed, or crushed. If you feel you need to stop SEROQUEL XR, talk with your health care professional first. 

SEROQUEL XR may cause serious side effects, including:

1. Risk of death in the elderly with dementia.

Medicines like SEROQUEL XR can increase the risk of death in elderly people who have memory loss (dementia). SEROQUEL XR is not for treating psychosis in the elderly with dementia.

2. Risk of suicidal thoughts or actions (antidepressant medicines, depression and other serious mental illnesses, and suicidal thoughts or actions).

• Talk to your, or your family member’s, health care provider about:
  • All risks and benefits of treatment with antidepressant medicines
  • All treatment choices for depression or other serious mental illness
• Antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment
• Depression and other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Some people may have a particularly high risk of having suicidal thoughts or actions. These include people who have (or have a family history of) depression, bipolar illness (also called manic-depressive illness), or suicidal thoughts or actions
• How can I watch for and try to prevent suicidal thoughts and actions in myself or a family member?
  • 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
  • Call the health care provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings
  • Keep all follow-up visits with the health care provider as scheduled. Call the health care provider between visits as needed, especially if you have concerns about symptoms

Call a health care provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

• Thoughts about suicide or dying

• Attempts to commit suicide

• New or worse depression

• New or worse anxiety

• Feeling very agitated or restless

• Panic attacks

• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)

• New or worse irritability

• Acting aggressive, being angry, or violent

• Acting on dangerous impulses

• An extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)

• Other unusual changes in behavior or mood

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the next dose, skip the missed dose. Just take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. If you are not sure about your dosing, call your health care professional.

Take SEROQUEL XR only as your doctor prescribes. Your doctor may recommend that you take SEROQUEL XR once daily in the evening (for example, 3-4 hours before bedtime).

SEROQUEL XR should be taken without food or with a light meal (approximately 300 calories).

Everyone responds differently to therapy, so try to be patient and follow the directions of your health care professional. It is important to take SEROQUEL XR exactly as your health care professional has prescribed and to report your progress to your doctor.

The most common side effects in adults across all indications are drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, increased appetite, upset stomach, weight gain, fatigue, disturbance in speech and language, and stuffy nose. This is not a complete list of side effects of SEROQUEL XR. Learn more about common SEROQUEL XR side effects.

SEROQUEL XR can cause serious side effects, including:

• Stroke that can lead to death can happen in elderly people with dementia who take medicines like SEROQUEL XR
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
• High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
• High fat levels in your blood (increased cholesterol and triglycerides)
• Increase in weight (weight gain)
• Movements you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts (tardive dyskinesia)
• Decreased blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension)
• Increases in blood pressure in children and teenagers
• Low white blood cell count
• Cataracts
• Seizures
• Abnormal thyroid tests
• Increases in prolactin levels
• Sleepiness, drowsiness, feeling tired, difficulty thinking and doing normal activity
• Increased body temperature
• Difficulty swallowing
• Trouble sleeping or trouble staying asleep (insomnia), nausea, or vomiting if you suddenly stop taking SEROQUEL XR

These symptoms usually get better 1 week after you start having them.

Before taking SEROQUEL XR, tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions such as:

• Diabetes or high blood sugar in you or your family: your health care professional should check your blood sugar before you start SEROQUEL XR and also during therapy
• High levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, or LDL cholesterol, or low levels of HDL cholesterol
• Low or high blood pressure
• Low white blood cell count
• Cataracts
• Seizures
• Abnormal thyroid tests
• High prolactin levels
• Heart problems
• Liver problems
• Any other medical condition
• Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant. It is not known if SEROQUEL XR will harm your unborn baby
• Breastfeeding or plans to breastfeed. It is not known if SEROQUEL XR will pass into your breast milk. You and your health care professional should decide if you will take SEROQUEL XR or breastfeed. You should not do both

Tell your doctor about all the medicines that you take or recently have taken, including prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, herbal supplements, and vitamins. SEROQUEL XR and other medicines may affect each other, causing serious side effects. SEROQUEL XR may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how SEROQUEL XR works.

Especially tell your health care professional if you take or plan to take medicines for:

• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Parkinson’s disease
• Trouble sleeping

Tell your doctor if you take or plan to take any of these medicines:

• Phenytoin, divalproex, or carbamazepine (for epilepsy)
• Barbiturates (to help you sleep)
• Rifampin (for tuberculosis)
• Glucocorticoids (steroids for inflammation)
• Thioridazine (an antipsychotic)
• Ketoconazole, fluconazole, or itraconazole (for fungal infections)
• Erythromycin (an antibiotic)
• Protease inhibitors (for HIV)

This is not a complete list of medicines that can affect or be affected by SEROQUEL XR. Your doctor can tell you if it is safe to take SEROQUEL XR with your other medicines.

Do not start or stop any medicines while taking SEROQUEL XR without talking to your health care professional first. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines to show your health care professional and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Tell your health care professional if you are having a urine drug screen, because SEROQUEL XR may affect your test results. Tell those giving the test that you are taking SEROQUEL XR.

• Do not drive, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how SEROQUEL XR affects you. SEROQUEL XR may make you drowsy
• Avoid getting overheated or dehydrated
  • Do not over-exercise
  • In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible
  • Stay out of the sun. Do not wear too much or heavy clothing
  • Drink plenty of water
• Do not drink alcohol while taking SEROQUEL XR. It may make some side effects of SEROQUEL XR worse

Talk to your health care professional to find out whether SEROQUEL XR is right for you. SEROQUEL XR is covered on most commercial insurance plans. In addition, you could be eligible for monthly savings on out-of-pocket costs over $3.* Be sure to read the eligibility requirements.

*Up to a $185 savings limit per month. Cash-paying patients will save up to $185 off the cost of their prescription after paying the first $3.  Subject to eligibility and restrictions below.