Mental illness has been recognized from numerous years. Earlier people used to think these mentally ill people were the affected by the evil spirits and so they behave abnormal. And accordingly these mentally unfit people were treated with some strange and dreadful treatments to get rid of the evil spirits from their bodies. But this was not the fact, the real matter was these people were really ill and were suffering from some dreadful diseases like schizophrenia, bipolar mania, anxiety and depression disorders etc. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder which can strike in almost any age and shows some negative symptoms such as, bizarre behavior, disorganized speech, hallucinations, delusions, lack of motivation, decreased emotions, lack of personal hygiene etc. Similarly, bipolar mania is another example of mental illness that cause psychological problems to such an extent that the normal daily routine is also hampered.


Science has spread its arms in almost every field and obviously has even researched about the mental illnesses and has discovered some remedy for it. Generic Seroquel i.e. Quetiapine is such an oral antipsychotic drug which is used for treating schizophrenia and bipolar mania. Quetiapine belongs to a group of the dibenzothiazepine derivatives Although the mechanism of action of Quetiapine is unknown like other anti-psychotics it inhibits communication between nerves of the brain. It does this by blocking receptors on the nerves for several neurotransmitters the chemicals that nerves use to communicate with each other. It is thought that its beneficial effect is due to blocking of the dopamine type 2 D2 and serotonin type 2 5-HT2 receptors for neurotransmitters, thereby altering the balance of these chemicals that play a role in thought and behavior.

Quetiapine usually is taken two or three times daily with water regardless of food. The dose usually is increased slowly over several days or weeks to achieve the desired effect. Quetiapine can be taken with or without food. The dose may vary for every individual depending on many factors like the medical condition, age, weight etc.

Do not crush or chew the pill but instead swallow it whole and try to take the drug exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The initial dose for bipolar mania is 50 mg twice daily 100 mg/d. The dose can be increased by 100 mg/d to a daily dose of 400 mg/d. Most patients respond to 400-800 mg/d. Doses greater than 800 mg/d have not been studied.

The initial dose for schizophrenia is 25 mg twice daily 50 mg/d. The dose can be increased by 25-50 mg two or three times daily. The target dose is 300-400 mg/d in two or three doses. Patients respond to 150-750 mg/d and doses greater than 800 mg/d have not been evaluated.

Frequent adverse effects include headache, agitation, dizziness, drowsiness, weight gain, constipation, dry mouth and stomach upset. Quetiapine can cause orthostatic hypotension, significant fall in blood pressure upon standing that can lead to dizziness or fainting especially during the first 3-5 day period of treatment when it is restarted after temporary discontinuation and after an increase in the dose. The risk of orthostatic hypotension is about 1 in 100 one of every hundred patients who takes Quetiapine.

Quetiapine frequently causes tiredness 1 in 5 patients especially during the first 3-5 days of treatment. Because of this tiredness care should be exercised in any activity requiring mental alertness such as operating a motor vehicle or hazardous machinery. Less common side effects include seizures 1 in 125 patients and hypothyroidism 1 in 250 patients.

As with other antipsychotics long-term use of Quetiapine may lead to irreversible Tardive Dyskinesia, which is a neurologic disease which consists of involuntary movements of the jaw lips and tongue. Some allergic reactions can also be observed such as dizziness, swelling, rash, trouble in breathing, itching etc.

A potentially fatal complex referred to as Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome NMS has been reported with antipsychotic drugs. Patients who develop NMS may have high fevers, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, irregular pulse or blood pressure, rapid heart rate excessive, unusual sweating, unusual changes in your mental alertness, heart arrhythmias, change in vision, increase in urination or thirst, uncontrolled muscle movements such as your tongue or facial muscles etc.

If any of the above side effects which are mentioned and which are not mentioned here occurs and appears bothersome, check with your doctor immediately and get treated accordingly.

Phenytoin Dilantin and thioridazine Mellaril markedly decrease the amount of Quetiapine that is absorbed from the intestine and thereby reduces its effectiveness. Therefore patients taking phenytoin or thioridazine may require higher doses of Quetiapine.

Quetiapine can cause hypotension, low blood pressure and therefore increase the blood pressure lowering the effects of antihypertensive drugs.

Quetiapine can increase the sedating effects of other drugs that sedate. Such drugs include narcotic pain relievers e.g. Percocet barbiturates sedatives such as alprazolam Xanax and clonazepam Klonopin ethanol and blood pressure drugs that can cause orthostatic hypotension such as prazosin Minipress and terazosin Hytrin.

Quetiapine is eliminated from the body by an enzyme in the liver called cytochrome P450 3A. There is a concern that drugs that strongly interfere with the enzyme e.g. ketoconazole Nizoral itraconazole Sporanox fluconazole Diflucan and erythromycin clarithromycin Biaxin nefazodone Serzone verapamil Calan Isoptin Verelan or diltiazem Cardizem Tiazac Dilacor may cause elevated and toxic levels of Quetiapine.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Overdose symptoms can include fainting, fatigue, drowsiness, rapid pulse-rate etc.

Remember, The Seroquel XR [extended-release Quetiapine] medicine is only given to adults. In the Bipolar Disorder case, this medicine is prescribed for children above 10 years of age and adults. But in the treatment of Schizophrenia, it is given to children who are above 13 years of age, besides adults. Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. And, if it is almost the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue to your regular dosing. Do not double your doses in any case, as it may lead to serious conditions. Consult your doctor for the missed dosage.

Quetiapine is used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat schizophrenia and bipolar mania, anxiety disorders, depression disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Insomnia, Social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and many more. So consult your doctor about more uses of the medication.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses also, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Seroquel medication.

Quetiapine medication should be stored at room temperature between 59 – 86 degrees F and 15-30 degrees C, in a tightly closed and light resistant container. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Moisture or heat may cause the break down of the medicine. In any case, do not store the Seroquel tablets in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Seroquel:

1. Tell your doctor that if you are suffering from some kind of severe diseases like seizures, heart or liver disease, Alzheimers disease, or if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had diabetes.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctor immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Seroquel or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any OTC medications especially rifampin Rifadin, Rimactane, selegiline Eldepryl, Symmetrel, barbiturates, bromocriptine Parlodel, carbamazapine Tegretol, cimetidine Tagamet, Tagamet HB, erythromycin, fluconazole Diflucan, glucocorticoids cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, itraconazole Sporanox, ketoconazole Nizoral, levodopa Larodopa, Dopar, Sinemet, lorazepam Ativan, medications for high blood pressure, pergolide Permax, phenobarbital Luminal, phenytoin Dilantin, pramipexole Mirapex, thioridazine Mellaril, amantadine Symadine, vitamins etc.

4. Do not take this Seroquel, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Quetiapine medication. Inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in the breast milk. But if you are planning or are already breast feeding, please consult your doctor before taking this medicine to avoid any reactions.

7. Remember, while you are taking this medication there are chances that you may have increases in your blood sugar hyperglycemia, even if you do not have diabetes.

8. If you are suffering from schizophrenia which is a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, strong or inappropriate emotions, loss of interest in life etc. you are more likely to develop diabetes than people who do not have schizophrenia and taking Quetiapine medicine or similar medications may increase this risk.

9. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms while you are taking Quetiapine such as weakness, frequent urination, extreme thirst, extreme hunger, blurred vision etc. It is very important to call your doctor as soon as you have any of these symptoms, because high blood sugar can cause more serious symptoms such as upset stomach and vomiting, dry mouth, breath that smells fruity, shortness of breath, or decreased consciousness which may become life-threatening if it is not treated at an early stage. So be alert in such a situation.

10. Always get up slowly when you are sitting or lying down as standing quickly may cause you to faint or become dizzy.

11. This medicine may cause dizziness or drowsiness and so caution is advised while driving or operating heavy machineries until you are sure that how exactly this medicine is reacting. Remember that alcohol can also add drowsiness caused by this drug.

12. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions with your doctor.

13. Be cautious and avoid activities that will cause your body to become dehydrated or overheat.

14. Please, take the medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.