Biquetan
Biquetan is a medicine containing quetiapine, used to treat several mental health conditions like depression, mania, and schizophrenia.
Form
depottabletti
Strength
300 mg
Active Ingredient
Quetiapine fumarate
Manufacturer
STADA Arzneimittel AG
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will tell you your exact dose. The usual daily dose is between 150 mg and 800 mg.
Method
Take the tablets once a day. Swallow them whole with water; do not split, chew, or crush them. Take them on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before a meal or at bedtime, as advised by your doctor.
Important
The maximum daily dose is usually 800 mg, but your doctor will decide what is right for you.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Dizziness (may lead to falls), headache, dry mouth
- •Sleepiness (this may go away as you continue to take Biquetan tablets) (may lead to falls)
- •Withdrawal symptoms when stopping Biquetan, such as difficulty sleeping, feeling sick, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, and irritability. It is recommended to stop gradually over 1-2 weeks.
- •Weight gain
- •Abnormal muscle movements, such as difficulty starting movements, shaking, restlessness, or muscle stiffness without pain
- •Changes in certain fat levels (triglycerides and total cholesterol)
RARE
- •Fast heartbeat
- •Palpitations, feeling your heart pound or skip beats
- •Constipation, indigestion (upset stomach)
- •Weakness, lack of strength
- •Swelling of arms or legs
- •Low blood pressure, especially when standing up. This can make you feel dizzy or faint (may lead to falls).
- •High blood sugar
- •Blurred vision
- •Abnormal dreams and nightmares
- •Increased appetite
- •Irritability
- •Speech and language problems
- •Suicidal thoughts and worsening depression
- •Shortness of breath
- •Vomiting (mainly in elderly patients)
- •Fever
- •Changes in thyroid hormone levels in the blood
- •Decrease in certain types of blood cells
- •Increased levels of liver enzymes measured in blood tests
- •Increased levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood. In rare cases, this can cause: breast swelling in men and women and unexpected milk production; missed or irregular periods in women.
- •Seizures or convulsions
- •Allergic reactions, such as hives and swelling around the skin and mouth
- •Unpleasant sensation in legs (restless legs syndrome)
- •Difficulty swallowing
- •Uncontrolled movements, especially of the face or tongue
- •Sexual dysfunction
- •Diabetes
- •Changes in the heart's electrical activity seen on an ECG (QT prolongation)
- •Slower heart rate than usual, which may occur at the start of treatment and be associated with low blood pressure and fainting
- •Difficulty urinating
- •Fainting (may lead to falls)
- •Stuffy nose
- •Decrease in red blood cells
- •Decrease in sodium levels in the blood
- •Worsening of diabetes
- •A combination of symptoms: high fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, significant drowsiness or weakness (Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome)
- •Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- •Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
- •Prolonged and painful erection (priapism)
- •Breast swelling and unexpected milk production (galactorrhea)
- •Menstrual disorders
- •Blood clots in veins, especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness in the legs), which can travel to the lungs, causing chest pain and breathing difficulties. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms.
- •Sleepwalking, sleep-talking, sleep-eating, or other activities while asleep
- •Drop in body temperature (hypothermia)
- •Pancreatitis
- •Metabolic syndrome, a condition with at least three of these: central obesity, decreased 'good' cholesterol (HDL), increased triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood, high blood pressure, and increased blood sugar levels.
- •A combination of fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, or another infection, along with a very low white blood cell count, a condition called agranulocytosis
- •Bowel obstruction
- •Increased levels of creatine phosphokinase (a substance from muscles) in the blood
- •Severe rash, blisters, or red spots on the skin
- •Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock) that 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 genital areas (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
- •Abnormal secretion of a hormone that regulates urine volume
- •Muscle fiber damage and muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis)
Important Warnings
- Do not take if you are allergic to quetiapine or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not take if you are taking certain medicines for HIV, antifungal medicines (azoles), erythromycin or clarithromycin (antibiotics), or nefazodone (an antidepressant).
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience fever, severe muscle stiffness, sweating, or decreased consciousness at the same time (this could be a serious condition called Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome).
- Report uncontrolled movements, especially of your face or tongue.
- Inform your doctor about dizziness or excessive sleepiness, which can increase the risk of falls in elderly patients.
Show 7 more warnings
- Report seizures (epileptic fits).
- Report a prolonged, painful erection (priapism).
- Seek urgent medical attention if you experience fast or irregular heartbeat, even at rest, palpitations, breathing difficulties, chest pain, or unexplained tiredness, as these may indicate a heart problem.
- Report fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, or any other infection, as this could be due to a very low white blood cell count, which may require stopping Biquetan and seeking treatment.
- Report constipation and persistent stomach pain or constipation that does not improve with treatment, as these could cause a serious bowel obstruction.
- If you feel depressed, you may sometimes think of harming yourself or taking your own life. These thoughts can get worse at the beginning of treatment. If you have such thoughts, contact your doctor or go to the nearest hospital immediately.
- Stop Biquetan and contact your doctor immediately if you develop a widespread rash, high fever, elevated liver enzymes, abnormal blood counts (eosinophilia), enlarged lymph nodes, and effects on other organs (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms, DRESS).
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)