Quetiapine is a medication used to treat the symptoms of some psychiatric illnesses. Have you heard of that psychotropic drug? Do you know someone who uses it? Pharmacological treatment is necessary in cases of psychopathology of a certain severity, but it is important to use it correctly. In this Psychology-Online article, we are going to see What is quetiapine, what is it for, what effects does it have and what doses are used.
What is quetiapine and what is it used for?
Quetiapine is a medication used to treat diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic-depressive disorder and depression. It is a substance that It is in a class of medications called atypical antipsychotics. Atypical antipsychotics are a class of medications used to treat certain psychiatric disorders.
Quetiapine can be used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia. La is a mental illness that causes a person to have altered thoughts, a loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions.
This substance can also be administered alone or with other medications to treat episodes of mania or depression:
- Bipolar disorder is characterized by , in which the individual presents a frenetic, abnormally excited or irritated mood.
- And also due to episodes of depression, in which the individual presents a depressed mood.
Quetiapine is also used to treat , in which a person has episodes of depression, mania, and other abnormal mood states.
Quetiapine can be used together with other medications for .
What is quetiapine used for?
What effects does quetiapine have? Quetiapine’s function is to change the activity of certain natural substances in the brain, it is responsible for rebalance dopamine and serotonin with the aim of improving mood, the individual’s way of thinking and behaving. Quetiapine is used to treat some of the symptoms of schizophrenia, such as:
- Hallucinations: imaginary images or voices
- Delusions: unreal beliefs
- Disorganized thinking
- Trouble speaking clearly
- Lack of motivation
- Little desire to be around other people
What should be the dose of quetiapine
Quetiapine is usually taken one to three times a day and it is not necessary to eat food before taking it. Regarding its dose, quetiapine is marketed in pills of 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg and 400 mg. They can also be sold in extended-release pills, in doses of 50 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg and 400 mg. The dose to be used will vary depending on the pathology, symptoms, characteristics and medical history of the person.
It is important to mention that only a qualified health professional can prescribe this substance, as well as the doctor who will adjust the dosage according to the individual and their needs.
What are the side effects of quetiapine
Quetiapine may cause side effects, including:
- Dizziness, feeling unsteady, or difficulty maintaining balance
- Joint pain
- Weakness
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Gases
- Stomach pain or inflammation
- More appetite
- Excessive weight gain
- Stuffy nose
- Headache
- Pain
- Irritability
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
- Difficulty speaking or using language
- Loss of coordination
- Unusual dream
- Numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms or legs
- Absence of menstrual periods
- Breast enlargement in men
- Breast discharge
- Decreased sexual desire or sexual inability
There are some side effects that can be serious, which is why it is extremely important to contact the doctor or go to the emergency room immediately if any of these symptoms occur:
- Fainting
- Fall down
- Seizures
- Vision changes
- Uncontrollable movements of your arms, legs, tongue, face, or lips
- Painful penile erection that lasts for hours
- Fever
- Muscle tension, pain or weakness
- Excess sweating
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Confusion
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Sore throat, fever, chills, difficult or painful urination, or other signs of infection
- Urticaria
- Rash
- Blisters
- Neck or throat muscle tension
- The tongue comes out of the mouth
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
In addition to the symptoms described, quetiapine can cause cataracts. So it is important for the individual to have eye exams to check for cataracts at the beginning of their treatment and every six months during it.
Can you take quetiapine and alcohol?
It is important that the individual who is using quetiapine do not consume alcohol or any type of drugssince these substances can reduce the benefits of the medication, in addition to worsen the person’s confusionand also increases adverse effects.
Finally, it is important that the individual who uses or intends to use quetiapine speaks with his or her doctor to analyze what other solutions can be offered for the treatment of each particular disorder.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Quetiapine: what it is, what it is for and side effectswe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
Physician Information Sheet. (2016). Quetiapine. Retrieved from: https://smiadviser.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ESP_seroquel.pdf
MedlinePuls. (2021). Quetiapine. Retrieved from: https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/druginfo/meds/a698019-es.html