What is quetiapine and what is it for?

What is quetiapine?

Quetiapine is a second-generation atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat adults, children and adolescents, some mental disorders such as schizophrenia and patients with bipolar disorder.

It comes as coated tablets, with an extended-release film of 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg,150 mg, 300 mg and 800 mg. The daily dose and frequency for its administration will depend on the pathology to be treated, the patient’s condition and years of age, but in general it is administered twice a day. Its active ingredient is quetiapine fumarate and also contains lactose monohydrate.

Its mechanism of action isfocused on the central nervous system, increasing the rate ofnoradrenalinebetween neurons facilitating their communication, also facilitates the release ofdopamine. This medicine isextensively metabolised by the liver with a lifespan of 7 hours in the body.

Important: This drug, since it is considered a psychotropic, should be administered under strict medical supervision, due to the risk of adverse reactions that may manifest and should also be kept out of reach of children.

What is quetiapine used for?

As we have previously mentioned, this drug is indicated for some mental disorders, which we mention below:

1. Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder, which affects the patient’s ability to think, feel and behave lucidly.

Note: In a literary review of scientific articles, they indicate that treatment with quetiapine can positively contribute to the management of psychological and behavioral symptoms associated with this dementia. (1)

2. Hobby

This mental disorder is characterized by the fact that the patient manifests exaggerated euphoria, the obsessive presence of a fixed idea, and an abnormal state of agitation and delirium.

To highlight: Studies carried out on a group of people showed that the use of quetiapine significantly alleviated manic symptoms from the fourth day, improving the behavior of these patients. (two)

3. Bipolar depression

This disorder is characterized by emotional ups and downs, ranging from depressive disorders to manic episodes. In this sense, some studies demonstrated that the use of quetiapine is effective for the treatment of the symptoms of this disorder in comparison with a placebo sample. (3)

Important: Quetiapine does not cure any mental disorder, it only relieves its symptoms to improve the patient’s quality of life.

Quetiapine Side Effects

Medical treatment with prolonged-release quetiapine can cause adverse effects in some patients , which we mention below:

• dry mouth
• Tardive dyskinesia.
• Extrapyramidal symptoms.
• Orthostatic hypotension.
• Increased appetite.
• Weight gain.
• Blurry vision.
• Increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
• Sleep.
• Constipation and intestinal obstruction.

To highlight: Consult your doctor if you observe any of these symptoms for dose reduction or discontinuation of treatment.

Quetiapine Contraindications

Taking quetiapine is contraindicated if you have any of the following conditions:

• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
• Low levels of white blood cells.
• Patients with a history of seizures.
• Lactose intolerance.
• In pregnant women, newborns and lactating periods.

Key Findings

• Quetiapine is a medication belonging to the Second generation antipsychotics.
• Quetiapine is indicated for mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar depression.
• This remedy must be administered under strict medical supervision.
• Quetiapine does not cure mental disorders, but it does help to relieve their symptoms.