Seroquel has antipsychotic activity and is relatively better tolerated than other antipsychotics. Helps improve mood and can be used for severe depression.

Release form

Seroquelinfo.com is available exclusively in film-coated tablets. The dosage of the drug is from 25 to 400 mg. There are long-acting forms, in this case after the name Quetiquel it is written: “Prolong”.

Composition

The active ingredient of the drug is quetiapine, an atypical neuroleptic. The dosage of the active ingredient is written on the package and corresponds to that of the drug. In addition to quetiapine, the composition includes auxiliary substances: lactose, cellulose, povidone and dyes in different proportions. The lower the dosage of the drug, the darker its shell.

Pharmachologic effect

Quetiapine, active ingredient of quetiapine, is a blocker of catecholamine receptors in the brain. It has more affinity for serotonin and histamine receptors, to a lesser extent – for dopamine and adrenaline receptors. The main point of application of the tool is the neurons of the mesolimbic system of the brain.

The mesolimbic system is the least studied among all structures of the brain. It has been found that she is responsible for mood, memories and can produce hallucinations. The more catecholamines in the neurons of this system, the greater the risk of developing productive symptoms of mental disorders and manic states. Quetiapine disrupts the transmission of catecholamine mediators in the neurons of the brain, suppressing productive symptoms.

The positive effect of the drug on mood, like all atypical antipsychotics, is explained by a greater suppression of serotonin receptors than dopamine receptors. The less serotonin in the mesolimbic system, the more dopamine in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex. Such a slight increase in it does not cause a relapse of hallucinations, but allows you to cope with the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and signs of depression. Therefore, quetiapine can improve mood and can be used for severe depression.

Indications for use

Application is justified in the following cases:

• An established diagnosis of schizophrenia, regardless of the form and severity of the disease;
• Major depressive disorder;
• Recurrent depressive disorder, severe episode of depression;
• Bipolar disorder, depressive or manic episode;
• Depression with a psychotic component;
• Pathologically low mood in organic diseases of the brain;
• For prophylactic purposes during the period of remission in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, provided that the treatment was carried out with the same drug.

Contraindications

The use is contraindicated in the following cases:

• Individual intolerance to quetiapine or its components;
• Lactase deficiency;
• Reception together with macrolides, azoles, iproniazide derivatives;
• Childhood.

It is prescribed with caution to women during pregnancy and lactating. The risk of developing fetal and infant pathology has not been investigated.

Side effects

Because quetiquel’s mechanism of action involves the shutdown of all catecholamine receptors, it often causes side effects. The most common of these is drowsiness. It is observed in almost all patients in the first two weeks of taking the medicine, and then disappears. Less common from the nervous system are reactions such as: dizziness, headache, unsteadiness when walking, orthostatic collapses.

In addition, short-term dry mouth is typical. Less common is nausea, vomiting, and constipation. From the side of the cardiovascular system, arrhythmias and palpitations sometimes occur. Rhinitis and short-term visual impairment are possible. In some patients, there are transient changes in laboratory parameters: an increase in liver transaminases, hyperglycemia, a decrease in leukocytes and platelets, a decrease in blood coagulation.

Overdose

Increasing the dose of quetiapine increases the likelihood of side effects. The most common signs of intoxication due to an overdose are mental retardation, tachycardia, various types of heart rhythm disturbances, and a persistent decrease in blood pressure. Single cases of coma are described when the permissible dose is exceeded several times.

The risk of life-threatening conditions increases in patients with cardiovascular and hepatic insufficiency, as well as in the elderly.

There is no specific antidote. In case of an overdose of a medication, a set of standard measures is carried out: gastric lavage, enema, the appointment of sorbents. The patient is admitted to the intensive care unit.

Dosage regimen

The dosage of quetiapine depends on the reason for its appointment and the individual characteristics of the organism. In schizophrenia, on the first day of treatment, 50 mg of the drug is prescribed, which are divided into two doses. The next days the dosage is increased by 2 times. On the fourth day, 300 mg is given and the effect is observed. In its absence, the dosage is increased to 400 mg, in case of side effects, it is reduced. They do the same in the treatment of depressive diseases.

In the treatment of bipolar disorder, the starting dose of quetiapine is 100 mg. It is increased every day by 100 mg until the fourth day inclusive. Then they stop at the most optimal dosing regimen for a particular patient.

The maximum allowable daily dose of quetiapine is 800 mg.

Instructions for use

Seroquel, regardless of dosage, is taken twice a day – morning and evening. This is due to the fact that the duration of action of a conventional drug is 12 hours. At the same time, its dose in the blood reaches a maximum 1.5 hours after administration.

Seroquel Prolong is taken once a day, since the duration of its action is 24 hours. The maximum blood dose is reached after 6 hours. It is by the time the peak dose is reached that side effects can be expected.

Instructions for use of the tablet form: it is recommended to take it after meals with a little water.

According to post-marketing studies, quetiapine does not cause addiction.

However, its abrupt abolition leads to the development of a number of pathological conditions. The latter are called withdrawal syndrome. It manifests itself as nausea, vomiting, headache, insomnia, and hyperkinesis. In order to avoid withdrawal syndrome, quetiapine is stopped by gradually decreasing the dose.

Analogs

An indicative list of Seroquel analogs that include the same drug:

• Quetiapine;
• Quetiapine Prolong;
• Kventiax;
• Quetiron;
• Ketilept;
• Viktoel;
• Hedonin;
• Ketiap;
• Nantarid.

The first two products from the list are named according to the active substance, the rest have trade names. The differences between medicines are in the composition of excipients, the speed of onset of the effect and the duration of action. The price of new generation drugs, including quetiapine, in pharmacies is slightly higher than analogues.

Reviews of those taking the drug

Ekaterina K .: “I have been suffering from mental disorder for a long time. I have tried many antipsychotics for treatment, including quetiapine precursors. I came to the conclusion that this drug is indeed more effective than its analogues. The first time I drank the minimum dose at night and slept very soundly. The next day I calmly got up to work and felt great. After the systematic use of the medicine my life stopped looking gloomy, I became more assiduous and calm. “

Savely M .: “I can’t say if this drug suited me. I have recurrent depressive disorder with frequent severe episodes. I was prescribed antipsychotics recently and it is still difficult to say how I feel about them. Seroquel has helped me cope with low mood and suicidal thoughts, but I constantly want to sleep. You can take him in the hospital and he helps, but at home I can’t do anything – it makes me sleepy. ”

Testimonials of doctors: “Seroquel is a new generation atypical antipsychotic. Before the advent of drugs in this class, the question of treating depression and productive symptoms was acute. Drugs used to treat low mood exacerbated hallucinations, and in the treatment of schizophrenia depression arose. Seroquel in such cases is the medicine of choice. It fights both production and depression, which is very important for some patients. ”