Seroquel and Side Effects Overview
February 01, 2006Seroquel, also known as quetiapine fumarate, is an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and symptoms of psychotic disorders such as hallucinations, delusions, and hostility. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Seroquel in 1997.
The medication is manufactured by Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals.
The most common side effects of Seroquel use include, but may not be limited to, drowsiness, weight gain, restlessness, dizziness, increased appetite, constipation and fatigue.
Antipsychotic drugs such as Seroquel have been linked to two serious complications known as Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) and Tardive Dyskinesia. NMS is a potentially fatal syndrome involving muscle rigidity, an altered mental state and symptoms of cardiac instability (irregular blood pressure, tachycardia, irregular pulse). Tardive Dyskinesia is a central nervous system disorder characterized by involuntary movements of the limbs as well as twitching of the face and tongue.
In September 2003, the FDA recommended that six atypical antipsychotics, including Seroquel, carry a diabetes warning because of a study that linked three of the six medications to the disorder. According to the study, Seroquel patients were three times more likely to develop diabetes than those taking older drugs.
In 2002, the FDA reported prescribing errors involving Seroquel and Serzone. The similarity in names between Seroquel and Serzone, the overlapping strengths (100 mg and 200 mg), the alike dosage forms (tablets), the similar dosing interval (BID), and the fact that these two products were stocked close together in pharmacies led doctors and pharmacists to accidentally dispense one in place of the other.
See your doctor if you have experienced serious side effects associated with Seroquel. In addition, it may be important to contact a Seroquel attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.