Quetiapine

About quetiapine

Quetiapine is a type of antipsicotico. It is used to relieve the symptoms of schizofrenia or, alternatively, for a mood disorder such as mania or depressione. In all of these conditions, quetiapine works on the balance of chemical substances in your brain.

Quetiapine is available as standard-release tablets (which are generally taken twice daily) and also as modified-release tablets (which are taken once daily). Modified-release tablets have the letters 'XL' after the brand name - these release quetiapine more slowly and evenly throughout the course of the day.

The most common side effects of quetiapine are:

• Mal di testa.

• Feeling dizzy or light-headed when you stand up.

• Sensazione di sonnolenza o stanchezza.

• Weight gain, due to increased appetite.

• Bocca secca.

• Feeling restless or shaky.

• Unusual or uncontrollable muscle movements

You may also experience other common side effects such as:

• Indigestione.

• Nausea.

• Essere malato (vomito).

• Costipazione.

• Visione offuscata.

• Abnormal dreams.

• Heart palpitations.

• Feeling short of breathe.

• Swollen feet or ankles.

• Irritabilità.

Troverai un elenco completo nel foglietto illustrativo del produttore fornito con il tuo medicinale. Gli effetti indesiderati spesso migliorano man mano che il tuo corpo si adatta al nuovo medicinale, ma parla con il tuo medico o farmacista se uno dei seguenti persiste o diventa problematico.

Se si verificano altri sintomi che ritieni possano essere dovuti alle compresse, ti preghiamo di consultare il tuo medico o farmacista per ulteriori consigli.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking quetiapine it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se sei incinta o stai allattando.

• If you have a heart problem or blood vessel disease.

• If you have had a stroke, or if you have been told you have 'thickening' of the blood vessels to your brain.

• Se hai problemi al fegato, ai reni o alla prostata.

• If you have any problems with your breathing, or if you have any difficulties swallowing.

• If you have breathing difficulties whilst sleeping (sleep apnoea).

• If you have any of the following: epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, raised pressure in your eye (glaucoma) or a condition which causes muscle weakness, called myasthenia gravis.

• Se hai mai avuto ingiallimento della pelle o del bianco degli occhi (ittero) o un disturbo del sangue.

• Se hai un tumore alla ghiandola surrenale (una condizione chiamata feocromocitoma).

• If you have had problems with alcohol or drug abuse.

• Se hai avuto una reazione allergica a un medicinale.

• Se stai assumendo o utilizzando altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale che stai assumendo e che è disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

• Read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about quetiapine and it will also provide you with a full list of the side effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take quetiapine exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is taken once or twice a day depending upon the type of tablet prescribed.

  • There are several different strengths of tablet available so your doctor will prescribe a dose to suit your condition. The directions for taking the tablets will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said to you.

• Try to get into the habit of taking your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take them regularly. If you are taking quetiapine for depression, you should take your doses at bedtime.

• Standard-release quetiapine tablets (these are usually taken twice daily) can be taken either before or after meals.

• If you have been given prolonged-release tablets (these have the letters 'XL' after the brand name) you must swallow the tablet whole when your stomach is empty. This means that you should not chew or break the tablet before your swallow it, and that you should take each of your doses at least an hour before a meal, or wait until two hours afterwards.

• If you have been given the oral liquid medicine, use the dosing syringe or cup to measure your dose accurately. The medicine can be taken either before or after meals.

• Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are on quetiapine. This is because a chemical in grapefruit is likely to increase the amount of quetiapine in your bloodstream and make side effects more likely.

• Se dimentichi di prendere una dose, prendila appena te ne ricordi, a meno che non sia quasi ora della dose successiva, in tal caso salta la dose dimenticata. Non prendere due dosi insieme per compensare una dose mancata.

• Your treatment will require careful monitoring to make sure that you get the best possible benefit from quetiapine. Keep your regular doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked. You will need to have some tests from time to time.

• Quetiapine tablets come in different strengths and colours. If your dose is changed, your tablets may look different. If you are unsure about your tablets at any time, please ask your pharmacist for advice.

• Treatment with quetiapine is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Keep taking the tablets unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Stop taking quetiapine suddenly can cause problems so your doctor may want you to reduce your dose gradually if this becomes necessary.

• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice. Alcohol may increase the risk of side effects from quetiapine so it is best avoided.

• If you have diabetes you may need to check your blood glucose more frequently, as quetiapine may affect the levels of sugar in your blood. Your doctor will advise you about this.

• Some medicines similar to quetiapine can cause the skin to become more sensitive to sunlight than normal. It may be advisable to use a sunscreen in bright sunlight until you know how your skin reacts.

• If you are due to have any medical or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking. This is important because quetiapine may interfere with any anaesthetic you receive.

• If you buy or take any 'over-the-counter' medicines or herbal remedies, please check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with quetiapine.

• A small number of people taking medicines for mood disorders can have thoughts about harming themselves or ending their lives, particularly when a new medicine is started. It is very important that you tell your doctor about this if it happens to you.

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.

• The oral liquid medicine lasts for 28 days after first opening. It is a good idea to write on the label the date you opened the bottle.

Is quetiapine a strong sleeping pill?

Quetiapine is not a sleeping pill, although it can make you feel drowsy. Some doctors may prescribe it at low doses for sleep problems, but it is not designed or licensed as a strong sleeping pill, and other treatments are usually preferred first.

Does quetiapine calm anxiety?

Although there's been some research looking at quetiapine for anxiety, it's not officially approved to treat this. If you're struggling with anxiety, your doctor will usually offer you other medications first.

Can you overdose on quetiapine?

Yes, it is possible to overdose on quetiapine. Taking more than the prescribed dose can be dangerous and may cause severe drowsiness, a fast or irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, or even more serious complications. If you or someone else has taken too much quetiapine, it’s important to seek emergency medical help straight away.