Description
Quetiapine
Quetiapine is used to treat certain mental/mood disorders and belongs to a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. It does not cure your condition, but it can help with the symptoms. It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain. Quetiapine demonstrates a high level of therapeutic efficacy and low risk of adverse effects during long-term treatment. It does not work straight away. It is well-tolerated and a suitable option for some patients with high sensitivity to other drugs, such as clozapine and olanzapine.
You’ll usually start on a low dose. It can take several days or weeks to get to the right dose for you, and for your symptoms to start improving. For the treatment of depression associated with bipolar disorder, take this medication by mouth once daily at bedtime. Take this medication usually 2 or 3 times daily with or without food. If you’re taking the slow release tablets, take them on an empty stomach. You can take quetiapine standard tablets with or without food. This means an hour before food and 2 hours after food. Quetiapine improves the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and major depression by acting on various neurotransmitter receptors, such as the serotonin and dopamine receptors.
The dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking. Quetiapine can make you feel more hungry than usual, so you may put on weight. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Eating a healthy, balanced diet will help with this. It is important to monitor for suicidality if this drug is given to younger patients. Elderly patients may require lower doses of quetiapine, as clearance in these patients.
