Quetiapine fumarate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some of the common questions people ask about SEROQUEL. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor will have weighed the risks of you taking it against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What SEROQUEL is used for
SEROQUEL helps to correct chemical imbalances in the brain. It is used to treat conditions such as:
Schizophrenia, an illness with disturbances in thinking, feelings and behaviour
Bipolar disorder, an illness in which there are sustained mood swings either up (mania) or down (depression). During mania, patients experience episodes of overactivity, elation or irritability. During depression, patients may feel depressed or guilty, lack energy, lose their appetite and have trouble sleeping.
SEROQUEL belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for another reason.
It is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take it
When you must not take it
Do not take SEROQUEL if you have an allergy to
quetiapine, the active ingredient in the medicine
any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin or you may feel faint.
Do not give SEROQUEL to children or adolescents unless recommended by your doctor.
The effects of SEROQUEL have only been studied in children aged between 10 and 17 years with mania and in children aged between 13 and 17 years with schizophrenia. There is not enough information on its effects in children to recommend its use in other age groups or for other conditions.
Do not use it after the use by (expiry) date printed on the pack.
Do not use it if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking SEROQUEL, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such a foods, dyes or preservatives
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
heart or blood vessel problems or a family history of heart or blood vessel problems including low blood pressure, stroke, problems with your circulation or any condition that affects blood flow to the brain, problems with the way your heart beats or a history of heart attack
liver problems
diabetes (or a family history of diabetes). Patients with diabetes or who have a higher chance of diabetes should have their blood sugar checked before and during treatment with SEROQUEL.
epilepsy (seizures or fits)
dementia or related behavioural disorders (especially in elderly patients)
low white blood cell count
sleep apnea - a condition where you stop breathing for short periods during your normal nightly sleep
urinary retention (a condition where you can't completely empty your bladder)
an enlarged prostate
a blockage in your intestines
increased pressure inside your eyes or glaucoma
history of alcohol or drug abuse
Tell your doctor or mental health professional if you have any mental/mood changes or suicidal thoughts.
Depression and other mental illnesses can increase the risk of suicide. It is important to discuss all the risks of treating depression and mental illness as well as the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your doctor, not just the use of antidepressants.
Patients (and caregivers of patients) need to monitor for any worsening of their condition and/or the emergence of thoughts of suicide or suicidal behaviour or thoughts of harming themselves and to seek medical advice immediately if these symptoms present.
Do not take SEROQUEL if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless your doctor says so. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits involved.
It is not known if it is safe for you to take it while you are pregnant. However, if you need to take it during your pregnancy, the doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking it with you.
It is recommended that you do not breastfeed while taking it, as it may pass into breast milk.
Before your doctor starts you on SEROQUEL your doctor may want to take some tests (eg blood tests, blood pressure, weight or height measurements). These tests may help to prevent side effects.
Tell your doctor if you are lactose intolerant.
SEROQUEL tablets contain lactose.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and SEROQUEL may interfere with each other. These include:
medicines used to treat anxiety, depression, mood swings, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other mood disorders
lorazepam - a medicine used to help you sleep
phenytoin or carbamazepine - medicines for epilepsy
medicines for high blood pressure (including diuretics or fluid tablets) or heart conditions
some antibiotics such as rifampicin and erythromycin
medicines used for fungal infections such as ketoconazole
medicines for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
thioridazine - an antipsychotic medicine
medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease
stimulants such as amphetamines
glucocorticoids - medicines used to treat inflammation
medicines that have anti-cholinergic (muscarinic) effects
These medicines may be affected by SEROQUEL, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking SEROQUEL.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you take any SEROQUEL.
How to take it
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you will need to take each day and how long you need to take it. This depends on your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.
SEROQUEL is usually started as a low dose that will be gradually increased by your doctor. Your doctor will recommend a dose especially for you. This will depend on various factors including your age, condition being treated, other medical conditions (eg liver problems), other medicines you are taking and how you may react to SEROQUEL. Your doctor will monitor your condition and may change your dose depending on how you respond to it. Your doctor will use the lowest dose for the least amount of time to keep you well.
When to take it
SEROQUEL is taken once or twice a day depending on your condition. Your doctor will tell you how you should take it.
Swallow your SEROQUEL tablets whole with a full glass of water.
You can take them with or without food.
How long to take it
Continue taking the tablets for as long as your doctor tells you.
SEROQUEL helps control your condition, but does not cure it. Therefore you must take it every day.
Do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to - even if you feel better.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose (within 6 hours), skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you have missed.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much SEROQUEL. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too many SEROQUEL tablets you may feel drowsy, sleepy, dizzy or have fast heart beats.
While you are taking it
Things you must do
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking it.
If you are about to be started on any new medicines, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you are taking it.
Tell your doctor or mental health professional immediately, or go to the nearest hospital, if you have any of the following suicidal thoughts or other mental/mood changes:
thoughts or talk of death or suicide
thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others
any recent attempts of self-harm
increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or agitation
worsening of depression
Occasionally, the symptoms of depression may include thoughts of suicide or self-harm. These symptoms may continue or get worse during the early stages of treatment until the effect of the medicine becomes apparent. All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.
If you become pregnant while taking it, tell your doctor immediately.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking it.
If you need to have any medical tests (including urine drug screening) while you are taking it, tell your doctor.
It may affect the results of some tests.
Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Your doctor will check your progress and may want to take some tests (eg blood tests, blood pressure, weight or height measurements) from time to time. These tests may help to prevent side effects.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking it, or change the dosage, even if you are feeling better, without checking with your doctor.
If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen or your chance of getting an unwanted side effect may increase. To prevent this, your doctor may gradually reduce the amount of SEROQUEL you take each day before stopping completely.
Do not give it to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar or they have the same condition as you.
Do not take it to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not take any medicines that cause drowsiness while you are taking it, unless recommended by your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how SEROQUEL affects you.
It can make some people dizzy or sleepy. Make sure you know how you react to it before you do anything that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or sleepy. Children should be careful when riding bicycles or climbing trees.
If it makes you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint, be careful when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking it.
Combining SEROQUEL and alcohol can make you more sleepy or dizzy. Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while you are being treated with it.
Avoid getting over-heated or dehydrated - do not over-exercise, in hot weather stay inside in a cool place, stay out of the sun, do not wear too much or heavy clothing, drink plenty of water. Keep warm in cool weather.
SEROQUEL may affect the way your body reacts to temperature changes.
Avoid drinking large quantities of grapefruit juice.
This medicine may be affected by grapefruit juice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about these things if you think they may bother you.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking it.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects. Some side effects may be related to the dose of SEROQUEL or may be more likely to occur during long term treatment. Therefore, it is important that you tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell, even if you think the problems are not connected with this medicine. Your doctor may then decide to adjust your dose or use a different medicine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
feeling sleepy
weight gain, increased appetite
feeling weak
dry mouth
runny or stuffy nose (particularly in children)
indigestion, upset stomach, constipation, vomiting (mainly in elderly or children)
swelling of your hands, feet or ankles
blurred vision
abnormal dreams, nightmares
irritability
shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and/or tightness in the chest
fast or irregular heartbeats (palpitations)
These side effects are usually mild. Some of these side effects may go away after a while.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice the following:
falling, feeling dizzy or faint on standing up
difficulty in speaking
difficulty swallowing
rapid heart beat
symptoms of high sugar levels in the blood (including passing large amounts of urine, excessive thirst, increase in appetite with a loss of weight, feeling tired, drowsy, weak, depressed, irritable and generally unwell)
breast enlargement, unusual secretion of breast milk
These are serious side effects. You may need medical attention.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
long lasting and painful erection
fainting (particularly in children)
signs of frequent infections such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
very marked drowsiness
reduced consciousness
abnormal muscle movements, including difficulty starting muscle movements, shaking, restlessness or muscle stiffness without pain.
worm-like movements of the tongue or other uncontrolled movements of the tongue, mouth, cheeks or jaw which may progress to the arms and legs
a sudden increase in body temperature, with sweating, or a fast heart beat
fits (seizures)
severe allergic reaction (may include severe difficulty breathing, shock, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, skin rash, hayfever, or you may feel faint)
severe upper stomach pain, often with nausea and vomiting (particularly in patients with other risk factors such as gallstones, alcohol consumption and/or increased levels of certain fats within the blood)
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Occasionally, SEROQUEL may be associated with changes in your liver function or blood (eg blood fat levels such as cholesterol or triglycerides, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, thyroid hormone levels, white blood cells). These can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
After taking it
Storage
Keep your SEROQUEL tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they will not keep well.
Keep it in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on a window sill.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking it or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What SEROQUEL looks like
SEROQUEL tablets are film-coated. All tablets except 300 mg are embossed with "Q" and the strength on one side, and are plain on the other side. SEROQUEL 300 mg tablets are embossed with "Q" on one side and "300" on the other.
Tablet shape and colouring is as follows:
25 mg: round peach
100 mg: round yellow
200 mg: round white
300 mg: capsule-shaped white.
SEROQUEL 25 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg come in packs of 60 tablets. SEROQUEL 100 mg comes in packs of 90 tablets.
Ingredients
Each tablet contains quetiapine fumarate as the active ingredient equivalent to quetiapine 25 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg or 300 mg.
Other ingredients include:
Povidone
Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate
Microcrystalline cellulose (E460)
Sodium starch glycollate
Lactose monohydrate
Magnesium stearate (E572)
Hypromellose
Macrogol 400
Titanium dioxide (E171)
Iron oxide red CI77491 (E172 - 25 mg only)
Iron oxide yellow CI77492 (E172 - 100 mg only).
SEROQUEL tablets do not contain gluten or sucrose.
