Quetiapine-Teva

Quetiapine fumarate.

Quetiapine belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics. These medicines help with the effects of some types of mental illness such as: Schizophrenia [hallucinations (like hearing unexplained voices), strange and frightening thoughts, changes in how one acts, and feeling alone and confused]; Bipolar mania [effects on the mood and feeling very 'high' or excited, needing to sleep less than usual, more talkative and having racing thoughts or ideas, feeling more irritable than usual].
Quetiapine-TEVA may also be used in the treatment of bipolar depression. The symptoms of depression include feeling sad all the time, feeling guilty, always tired, not being able to sleep or eat.

Always take Quetiapine-TEVA exactly as told by the doctor. Check with the doctor or pharmacist if unsure. The doctor will decide what starting dose should be taken according to the illness present.
The starting dose is usually either: treatment starting with 50 mg on the first day, 100 mg on the second day, 200 mg on the third day and 300 mg on the fourth day; or treatment starting with 100 mg on the first day, 200 mg on the second day, 300 mg on the third day and 400 mg on the fourth day.
The doctor will tell how many Quetiapine-TEVA to take each day. The dose can be between 150 mg and 800 mg daily. It depends on the illness and needs. If elderly or with kidney problems, the doctor may give a lower dose.
Take the tablets once a day, at bedtime or twice a day, depending on the illness. Place the tablet in the mouth, and swallow it whole with a glass of water. Do not stop taking the tablets even if feeling better, unless told by the doctor.
Forgotten intake of Quetiapine-TEVA: If intake of a dose has been forgotten, take one as soon as it is remembered, unless it is almost time to take the next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. Take the next dose as usual.
Stopping intake of Quetiapine-TEVA: Suddenly stopping taking Quetiapine-TEVA can cause nausea or vomiting, inability to sleep, jerky movements, and recurrence of original symptoms. The doctor may suggest to reduce the dose gradually before stopping treatment.

If a lot of the tablets has been swallowed all together or if a child may have swallowed any of the tablets, contact the nearest hospital casualty department or the doctor immediately. Take the patient information leaflet, any remaining tablets and the container to the hospital or doctor so that they know which tablets were consumed.

Do not take Quetiapine-TEVA if allergic (hypersensitive) to quetiapine or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

Take special care with Quetiapine-TEVA: Quetiapine-TEVA should not be taken by elderly people with dementia (loss of brain function). This is because the group of medicines that Quetiapine-TEVA belongs to may increase the risk of stroke, or in some cases the risk of death, in elderly people with dementia.
Check with the doctor before taking Quetiapine-TEVA: If with existing heart problems or low blood pressure, or if with history of a stroke; If with existing liver disease, or history of convulsions (fits); If with existing diabetes or a risk of getting diabetes [blood sugar levels may need to be checked more frequently].
Driving and using machines: Quetiapine-TEVA may cause sleepiness. Do not drive if this medicine affects the ability to drive. Do not use any tools or machines if the ability to use them is affected by this medicine.

Talk to the doctor if pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breast-feeding.
Neonates exposed to antipsychotic drugs during the third trimester of pregnancy are at risk for extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms following delivery. There have been reports of agitation, hypertonia, hypotonia, tremor, somnolence, respiratory distress and feeding disorder in these neonates. These complications have varied in severity; while in some cases symptoms have been self-limited, in other cases neonates have required intensive care until support and prolonged hospitalization.
Quetiapine-TEVA should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Like all medicines, Quetiapine-TEVA can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If any of the following happen, stop taking Quetiapine-TEVA and contact the doctor immediately: Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people): Convulsions (fits); Allergic reaction that may include raised lumps (weals), swelling of the skin and swelling around the mouth.
Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people): Fever, persistent sore throat or mouth ulcers, faster breathing, sweating, muscle stiffness, feeling drowsy or faint; Painful and prolonged erection.
Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people): Severe allergic reaction that may include difficulty in breathing, dizziness and collapse.
Other possible side effects have been reported at the approximate frequencies shown: Very common (affects more than 1 in 10 people): Dizziness; Sleepiness (may go away as treatment is continued).
Common (affects less than 1 in 10 people): Fast heartbeat or fainting; Dry mouth or runny nose; Indigestion or constipation; Tiredness; Swelling of the limbs; Weight gain, mainly in the first weeks of treatment; High blood sugar; Low blood pressure when standing (will cause dizziness or fainting).
Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people): Restless legs.
Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people): Large increase in blood pressure or heartbeat.
Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people): Worsening of pre-existing diabetes.
Involuntary movements of tongue or face sometimes develop after long-term use of Quetiapine-TEVA.
If yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes is noticed, talk to the doctor.
If any side effects get serious or if any side effects not previously listed are noticed, tell the doctor.

Be careful if taking any of the following: Tell the doctor or pharmacist if taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription and herbal medicines.
Check with the doctor if taking any of the following, as the doctor may need to adjust the dose: Medicines for anxiety or depression; Medicines for epilepsy such as carbamazepine, phenytoin; Medicines for an infection such as erythromycin or ketoconazole; High blood pressure medicines; Anti-tuberculosis medicine rifampicin; Protease inhibitors, such as nelfinavir (for HIV infection); Barbiturates for insomnia; Another antipsychotic medicine such as thioridazine.
Before stopping intake of any medicines, talk to the doctor first.
Taking Quetiapine-TEVA with food and drink: The tablets can be taken with or without food.
Be careful how much alcohol is consumed. This is because the combined effect of alcohol and Quetiapine-TEVA may cause sleepiness.

Return all unused medicines to the pharmacist for safe disposal.

Store below 25°C. Do not transfer to another container.

Antipsychotics

N05AH04 - quetiapine ; Belongs to the class of diazepines, oxazepines and thiazepines antipsychotics.

P₁S₁S₃