Quetiapin Ratiopharm
Quetiapine is a medicine used to treat mental health conditions like depression, mania, and schizophrenia.
Form
depottabletti
Strength
50 mg
Active Ingredient
Quetiapine fumarate
Manufacturer
Teva Pharma B.V.
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your starting dose and daily dose, which is usually between 150 mg and 800 mg.
Method
Take your tablet whole with water once a day, at least 1 hour before a meal or at bedtime. Do not break, chew, or crush it, and do not drink grapefruit juice during treatment.
Important
The maximum daily dose is usually 800 mg.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Dizziness (may lead to falls), headache, dry mouth.
- •Feeling sleepy (may decrease over time), can lead to falls.
- •Weight gain.
- •Abnormal muscle movements (difficulty starting, shaking, restlessness).
- •Withdrawal symptoms if treatment is stopped suddenly (e.g., trouble sleeping, nausea, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, irritability).
- •Fast heartbeat, palpitations.
- •Constipation, upset stomach.
- •Weakness, swelling in arms or legs.
- •Low blood pressure (can cause dizziness or fainting when standing up).
- •High blood sugar, blurred vision.
- •Abnormal dreams, increased appetite, irritability, speech problems, shortness of breath, fever.
- •Changes in blood test results (e.g., liver enzymes, thyroid hormones, cholesterol, prolactin, white blood cells).
- •Suicidal thoughts and worsening depression (contact a doctor immediately).
RARE
- •Sudden fever with sore throat and flu-like symptoms (may mean low white blood cells).
- •Severe skin rashes with blisters, peeling skin, or red patches (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
- •Seizures or convulsions.
- •Restless legs, difficulty swallowing, sexual problems.
- •Slower heartbeat (especially at start of treatment), fainting.
- •Difficulty urinating, stuffy nose, confusion, low sodium in blood, worsening diabetes.
- •Uncontrolled movements, especially of the face or tongue.
- •Pounding heart with dizziness or fainting (serious heart rhythm problems).
- •Signs of a blood clot (severe leg pain/swelling/redness, sudden severe chest pain, sudden shortness of breath).
- •Severe abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting (may be pancreatitis or bowel obstruction).
- •Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, unusual tiredness, or fever (signs of liver problems).
- •Long-lasting, painful erection.
- •Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, extreme drowsiness or unconsciousness).
- •Breast swelling and unexpected milk production (galactorrhea), menstrual problems, sleepwalking/talking/eating.
- •Low body temperature, metabolic syndrome, increased creatine kinase in blood.
- •Severe allergic reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, sudden swelling of skin, muscle breakdown/pain).
- •Heart muscle disease, heart muscle inflammation, stroke, inflammation of blood vessels.
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, antibiotics (erythromycin or clarithromycin), or the antidepressant nefazodone.
- Tell your doctor if you or your family has a history of heart problems or if you take medicines that affect your heart rhythm.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide, especially at the start of treatment.
- Seek immediate medical help if you experience fever, severe muscle stiffness, heavy sweating, confusion, or a severe skin rash.
Show 3 more warnings
- Inform your doctor if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing it, as your blood sugar needs to be monitored.
- This medicine is not recommended for elderly patients with dementia due to an increased risk of stroke.
- Tell your doctor if you or your family has a history of blood clots.
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)