Seroquel

What you should know before using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of quetiapine in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, quetiapine may be removed from the body more slowly in older adults, so an older adult may receive a lower dose than a younger adult. This medicine has NOT been approved to treat behavioral problems in older adults with dementia.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Bepridil
• Cisapride
• Mesoridazine
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alzheimer's disease—Quetiapine may cause problems with swallowing, which may increase the chance of pneumonia; also, the chance of seizures may be increased.

• Breast cancer, or history of or
• Underactive thyroid—Quetiapine may make these conditions worse.

• Dehydration—Decreased blood pressure caused by quetiapine may be more severe; chance of developing heatstroke may be increased.

• Heart disease or
• Stroke, or history of—Decreased blood pressure caused by quetiapine may be more severe or may make these conditions worse.

• Kidney disease (severe) or
• Liver disease—Higher blood levels of quetiapine may occur, increasing the chance of side effects; the dose may need to be changed.

• Seizures, or history of—Chance of seizures may be increased.