quetiapine

Brand names: Quetiapine

# Consumer Overview of Quetiapine Quetiapine is a prescription medication used to treat serious mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. It works by helping to balance certain chemicals in the brain that affect mood and thinking. Doctors may prescribe this medicine when other treatments haven't worked well enough. It comes in tablet form and is typically taken by mouth one or more times per day, depending on what condition is being treated and how the patient responds to the medication. There are some important safety things to know about quetiapine. It can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and trouble concentrating, so it's not safe to drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you. Some people may experience weight gain or develop problems with blood sugar levels, so your doctor will want to monitor you regularly. It's very important to tell your doctor about all other medications you're taking, as quetiapine can interact with many drugs—sometimes requiring your dose to be adjusted significantly. Never stop taking quetiapine suddenly without talking to your doctor first, as this can cause serious problems. If you're pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant, discuss this with your doctor before starting this medication.

Known Interactions

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors: Reduce quetiapine dose to one sixth when coadministered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, ritonavir) ( 2.5 , 7.1 , 12.3 ) Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inducers: Increase quetiapine dose up to 5 fold when used in combination with a chronic treatment (more than 7-14 days) of potent CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., phenytoin, rifampin, St. John’s wort) ( 2.6 , 7.1 , 12.3 ) Discontinuation of strong CYP3A4 inducers: Reduce quetiapine dose by 5-fold within 7-14 days of discontinuation of CYP3A4 inducers ( 2.6 , 7.1 , 12.3 ) 7.1 Effect of Other Drugs on Quetiapine The risks of using quetiapine in combination with other drugs have not been extensively evaluated in systematic studies. Given the primary CNS effects of quetiapine, caution should be used when it is taken in combination with other centrally acting drugs. Quetiapine potentiated the cognitive and motor effects of alcohol in a clinical trial in subjects with

Source: FDA-approved drug labeling via openFDA

Most Reported Side Effects (FAERS)

  • DRUG INEFFECTIVE12,344 reports
  • OFF LABEL USE11,797 reports
  • TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS9,720 reports
  • INSOMNIA9,104 reports
  • FATIGUE8,862 reports
  • DIABETES MELLITUS8,344 reports
  • WEIGHT INCREASED8,153 reports
  • DRUG INTERACTION8,116 reports
  • SOMNOLENCE8,003 reports
  • NAUSEA7,979 reports

Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Voluntary reports do not establish causation.

Check interactions with quetiapine:

SafeCheck provides drug interaction information from FDA-approved product labeling (openFDA). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions.