Seroquel is a drug containing the active ingredient quetiapine (quetiapine). It is most commonly used in the treatment of depression. It has a wide usage area. In addition to depressive disorders, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia are among the diseases in which it is used. In addition, it is frequently used in the treatment of sleep disorders and alcohol addiction. Therefore, it cannot be claimed that everyone using Seroquel suffers from schizophrenia.
Seroquel should be used only if recommended by a psychiatrist. Seroquel dose adjustment may be different for each patient and must be done by a specialist physician. In this article, only information for adult use is given.
If you have just started using Seroquel, do not increase or decrease the dose prescribed to you without the knowledge of your doctor. Do not forget that everyone’s clinic is different, as well as the amount of drugs and doses used may vary.
While Seroquel is used in sleep disorders, it is usually taken orally at 25 mg/day before going to bed. This treatment must be decided by a psychiatrist. In cases where this dose is not sufficient, a different dose or drug may be preferred.
When Seroquel is used for the treatment of alcohol dependence, treatment may be started with 25 or 50 mg per day, depending on the patient’s clinic. Patient compliance with treatment is important. The effectiveness of the drug and the patient’s clinic are monitored. In the treatment of alcohol dependence, the daily dose does not exceed 300 mg.
The use of Seroquel is often preferred in the treatment of depression. Other antidepressants may also be used by the patient. The drug combinations recommended by the physician must be followed. When Seroquel is preferred in addition to the patient’s other antidepressant drugs in the treatment of major depression, 50 mg is usually taken orally in the evening for the first two days. From day 3, it can be increased to 150 mg in the evening. This will vary according to the patient’s compliance and clinic. In patients with major depression, it is usually continued with a dose in the range of 150-300 mg.
In bipolar disorder patients, the way of use may change according to manic or depressive episodes. In these patients, lithium or other drugs are often used together. In manic bipolar patients, it is started with 100 mg/day and continued in the range of 400-800 mg/day within an average of one week. This dose adjustment is made by a psychiatrist. Some patients may also need to start with 300 mg. The daily dose does not exceed 800 mg.
In depressive periods of bipolar disorder, it can be started with 50 mg/day, followed by 100 mg on the second day and 200 mg on the third day. From day 4, 300 mg per day is taken at bedtime. In maintenance therapy, dose adjustments are made to 400-800 mg twice a day.
Similarly, the use of seroquelin in the treatment of schizophrenia varies according to the patient’s clinic. It is usually started with 25 or 50 mg twice a day. It is increased in 12-hour intervals and brought in the range of 300-400 mg on the 4th day. Treatment is continued in the range of 150-750 mg/day in patients with schizophrenia. It is also possible to start and continue with 300 mg as a maintenance.
While using Seroquel, attention should be paid to other drugs used together. Drugs should not be added to the treatment in such a way that drug interactions can occur without the knowledge of the physician. For example, it is undesirable to use drugs containing quetiapine together with drugs with active ingredients such as amisulprid, goserelin, lefamulin, leuprolide. Before the concomitant use of any risky drug, physician control and approval is required.
Seroquel can often show side effects such as dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, increased blood pressure, increased cholesterol and triglycerides, drowsiness, increased appetite and constipation.
Seroquel is not used in children younger than 10 years of age and in geriatric dementia patients. It is not preferred in young people and adolescents.