Biquetan
Biquetan is a medication containing quetiapine, used to treat several mental health conditions such as depression, mania, and schizophrenia.
Form
depottabletti
Strength
200 mg
Active Ingredient
Quetiapine fumarate
Manufacturer
STADA Arzneimittel AG
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will determine your dose; the maintenance dose is typically between 150 mg and 800 mg daily.
Method
Take the tablets once a day whole with water; do not split, chew, or crush them. Take them without food, at least one hour before a meal or at bedtime.
Important
The maximum usual daily dose is 800 mg.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Dizziness (can lead to falls), headache, dry mouth
- •Drowsiness (can lead to falls, may disappear with continued use)
- •Withdrawal symptoms (insomnia, nausea, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, irritability)
- •Weight gain
- •Abnormal muscle movements (difficulty starting movements, tremors, restlessness, muscle stiffness without pain)
- •Changes in certain fat levels (triglycerides and total cholesterol)
- •Fast heartbeat
- •Palpitations, pounding or irregular heartbeat
- •Constipation, indigestion
- •Weakness
- •Swelling of arms or legs
- •Low blood pressure, especially when standing up (can cause dizziness or fainting and lead to falls)
- •High blood sugar
- •Blurred vision
- •Abnormal dreams and nightmares
- •Increased appetite
- •Irritability
- •Speech problems
- •Suicidal thoughts and worsening depression
- •Shortness of breath
- •Vomiting (mainly in the elderly)
- •Fever
- •Changes in thyroid hormone levels in the blood
- •Decrease in certain types of white blood cells
- •Increased liver enzyme levels in blood tests
- •Increased levels of prolactin hormone in the blood (can rarely cause breast swelling in men and women, unexpected breast milk production, or missed/irregular periods in women)
- •High blood pressure
RARE
- •Seizures or convulsions
- •Allergic reactions (e.g., hives, swelling of skin and around the mouth)
- •Unpleasant feeling in legs (restless legs syndrome)
- •Difficulty swallowing
- •Uncontrolled movements, especially in the face or tongue
- •Sexual dysfunction
- •Diabetes
- •Changes in heart's electrical activity (QT prolongation seen on ECG)
- •Slower heart rate than normal (may occur at start of treatment, with low blood pressure and fainting)
- •Difficulty urinating
- •Fainting (can lead to falls)
- •Stuffy nose
- •Decrease in red blood cells
- •Decrease in sodium levels in blood
- •Worsening diabetes
- •Combination of symptoms: high fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, significant drowsiness or weakness (neuroleptic malignant syndrome)
- •Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
- •Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
- •Prolonged and painful erection (priapism)
- •Breast swelling and unexpected breast milk production (galactorrhea)
- •Menstrual irregularities
- •Blood clots in veins, especially in the legs (swelling, pain, redness), potentially leading to chest pain and difficulty breathing if they travel to the lungs.
- •Sleepwalking, sleep-talking, sleep-eating or other activities while asleep
- •Decreased body temperature (hypothermia)
- •Pancreatitis
- •Metabolic syndrome (combination of at least three symptoms: increased abdominal fat, decreased "good" cholesterol (HDL), increased triglycerides, high blood pressure, and increased blood sugar)
- •Combination of fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat or other infection, and very low white blood cell count (agranulocytosis)
- •Bowel obstruction
- •Increased levels of creatinine phosphokinase (a substance from muscles) in the blood
- •Severe rash, blisters or red patches on the skin
- •Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock) which may cause breathing difficulties or shock
- •Rapid swelling of the skin, usually around the eyes, lips or throat (angioedema)
- •Severe blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes or genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
- •Abnormal secretion of a hormone regulating urine volume
- •Muscle fiber breakdown and muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis)
- •Rash with irregular red patches (erythema multiforme)
- •Severe, sudden allergic reaction with symptoms like fever, skin blisters and peeling skin (toxic epidermal necrolysis)
- •Withdrawal symptoms in newborns if the mother used quetiapine during pregnancy
- •Stroke
- •Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
- •Heart muscle inflammation (myocarditis)
- •Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis), often with a rash of small red or purple spots
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to quetiapine or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Do not use with certain HIV medications, antifungal medicines (like azoles), erythromycin or clarithromycin (antibiotics), or nefazodone (an antidepressant).
- Tell your doctor if you or your family have had heart problems or if you take medicines that affect your heart rate.
- Tell your doctor if you have low blood pressure.
- Tell your doctor if you have had a stroke, especially if you are elderly.
Show 26 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you have liver disease.
- Tell your doctor if you have had seizures or epilepsy.
- Tell your doctor if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing it. Your doctor will check your blood sugar.
- Tell your doctor if you have had low white blood cell counts.
- If you are elderly and have dementia, Biquetan may not be suitable for you as it can increase the risk of stroke or death.
- Tell your doctor if you are elderly and have Parkinson's disease.
- Tell your doctor if you or your family have had blood clots.
- Tell your doctor if you have sleep apnea or use sedatives.
- Tell your doctor if you have difficulty urinating, an enlarged prostate, a bowel obstruction, or high eye pressure.
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of alcohol or drug abuse.
- Tell your doctor if you have depression and are taking antidepressants, as the combination can cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience fever, severe muscle stiffness, heavy sweating, or confusion (neuroleptic malignant syndrome).
- Tell your doctor if you have uncontrolled movements, especially in your face or tongue.
- Tell your doctor if you feel very dizzy or drowsy, as this can increase the risk of falls in the elderly.
- Seek medical attention if you have seizures.
- Seek medical attention if you have a prolonged and painful erection.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, or extreme tiredness.
- Seek medical attention if you get a fever, flu-like symptoms, or a sore throat, as this could be a sign of low white blood cell count.
- Seek medical attention if you have persistent constipation or abdominal pain, as this could lead to a bowel obstruction.
- If you have depression and thoughts of harming yourself, tell your doctor immediately, especially at the start of treatment.
- Stop taking the medicine and seek immediate medical attention if you develop widespread rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, or other symptoms that may indicate a serious allergic reaction (DRESS syndrome).
- This medicine can cause weight gain, so you and your doctor should regularly monitor your weight.
- Biquetan is not for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
- Do not drink grapefruit juice during treatment, as it can affect how the medicine works.
- Do not stop taking the medicine without talking to your doctor, even if you feel better.
- Do not stop taking the medicine suddenly, as this can cause withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, nausea, headache, and irritability.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category D
Avoid use in older adults. Anticholinergic. Sedative. For treatment of psychosis only. Inappropriate as a hypnotic. Increases the risk of cardiovascular events, QT prolongation and orthostatic hypotension. Increases risk of falls, extrapyramidal symptoms and cognitive impairment. Reduces the effectiveness of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. Avoid grapefruit. (updated 15.1.2024)