What are the side effects to taking Seroquel?

Question

My husband takes Seroquel for what the doctors say is mild schizophrenia and I want to know what the long term side effects are to this drug. Are there are any warning signs I should be looking for? Also I'm not so sure he has schizophrenia can someone tell me about this disorder too please.

Answer 1

I also took it for the same thing and got the side effects of...
Depression, suicidal thoughts, Hypertension, excessive muscle tone and after that weight gain. Here is a link you may find helpful. I wish him the best! :)

http://www.drugs.com/seroquel.html
Home site
http://www.seroquel.com/

Answer 2

I've been on it for about 4 or 5 years. I have to keep my dose at 100 mg or less because after that I have this really weird side effect that is hard to describe but basically it feels like when you are falling asleep and think you are falling...nobody else I've talked to who has taken Seroquel had this problem though.

It causes drowsiness (it is a fabulous treatment for insomnia! I have never slept as regularly as I do on Seroquel and I have no drug hangover/fog in the morning.) Other than that, I have not had any major side effects. I know a lot of people on it, as I co-run a support group, and overall it appears to be well tolerated. In studies, it has been found to have substantial antidepressant effects.

There is the risk of weight gain or diabetes, but not as bad as some of the other similar psych meds out there. There is also a risk, with long term use, of tardive dyskinesia (tics, uncontrolled movements), although it appears to be very uncommon with Seroquel. It's something to be aware of though, as it doesn't always go away when the medication is stopped.

I've been on 19 different medications and I give Seroquel a thumbs up. It does it's job with minimal side effects, which is what I need in a medication.

Answer 3

Schizophrenia comes in many types - paranoid, catatonic, disorganized, residual. No diagnosis is 100% correct. An accurate diagnosis needs to be made over time, after seeing how the person acts through the years. Once of the great predictors of schizophrenia is if there is a positive family history. Does/Did anyone in your husbands family have a psychiatric disorder, or schizophrenia? The age of onset is alo important. Is your husband in his 20's? The classic symptoms of schizophrenia are auditory or visual hallucinations (i.e. hearing voices others can't hear) that persist for some time. Another criteria is odd behavior that interferes with daily life and leads to deterioration of home, work, and such. I would make sure your husband sees a good psychiatrist for an accurate diagnosis before he is labled with schizophrenia. If you can get your hands on a copy of the DSM-IV-TR, you can see the criteria for the diagnosis of the disease.
As for the Seroquel, it's a failry safe drug. It's also very effective. It's a newer generation of the antipsychotic drugs, which means it has fewer side effects. The most common side effects are drowsiness, high triglycerides (fat in the blood), high cholesterol, constipation, dry mouth...pretty much the normal list of side effects. But these are all side effects that differ from patient to patient. Each patient reacts differently. For the long term, its a safe and effective drug to use.
Your husband can also benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It's a form os psychiatric treatment that has been shown to help people with schizophrenia.
I hope this info helps.

Answer 4

I also take 200 mg at night for sleep it is also the only thing that knocks me out enough to sleep.. I also take 2 mg of lorazapam w/ it at night.... I have been on the seroquel for 6 months and it has also caused depression in me.. I have never heard of the leg thing!! maybe you need a higher does of the seroquel (my bottle says I can take up to 400mg at night for sleep) I would also recommend the lorazapam excellent pill for the manic part... id go back to the doctor and be aggressive and tell him he may not want to make any changes now but YOU the PATIENT feel you need a change!!! remind him you have kids to take care of... if after a few weeks on a medication its not working for you I believe change the dose or try another... iv never have done the "give it time thing" and then feel better in a few months usually my first impression stayed the same... ill keep you in my prayers.. but please go back to the doctor and be aggressive!!!! and if you don't feel comfortable w/ him try another...

Answer 5

I've taken high doses of Seroquel for 3 months for insomnia and experienced no side effects durring and after taking it.

Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic (also referred to as neruoleptic) and there are two serious conditions that can develop as a result of taking these meds.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroleptic_malignant_syndrome

Tardive dyskinesia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardive_dyskinesia

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality and by significant social or occupational dysfunction. A person experiencing schizophrenia is typically characterized as demonstrating disorganized thinking, and as experiencing delusions or auditory hallucinations.

For a list of diagnostic criteria to determine if your husband is likely to have this illness, please read up on the following page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia#Diagnosis

I hope that this finds you and your husband well and that the information gives you some piece of mind.

Answer 6

Go to drugs.com for info on Seroquel

Diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenia

A. Characteristic symptoms: Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated):

(1) delusions

(2) hallucinations

(3) disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence)

(4) grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior

(5) negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avolition

Note: Only one Criterion A symptom is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person's behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices conversing with each other.

B. Social/occupational dysfunction: For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care are markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset (or when the onset is in childhood or adolescence, failure to achieve expected level of interpersonal, academic, or occupational achievement).

C. Duration: Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month of symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet Criterion A (i.e., active-phase symptoms) and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms or two or more symptoms listed in Criterion A present in an attenuated form (e.g., odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences).

D. Schizoaffective and Mood Disorder exclusion: Schizoaffective Disorder and Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features have been ruled out because either (1) no Major Depressive, Manic, or Mixed Episodes have occurred concurrently with the active-phase symptoms; or (2) if mood episodes have occurred during active-phase symptoms, their total duration has been brief relative to the duration of the active and residual periods.

E. Substance/general medical condition exclusion: The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

F. Relationship to a Pervasive Developmental Disorder: If there is a history of Autistic Disorder or another Pervasive Developmental Disorder, the additional diagnosis of Schizophrenia is made only if prominent delusions or hallucinations are also present for at least a month (or less if successfully treated).

Classification of longitudinal course (can be applied only after at least 1 year has elapsed since the initial onset of active-phase symptoms):

Episodic With Interepisode Residual Symptoms (episodes are defined by the reemergence of prominent psychotic symptoms); also specify if: With Prominent Negative Symptoms

Episodic With No Interepisode Residual Symptoms

Continuous (prominent psychotic symptoms are present throughout the period of observation); also specify if: With Prominent Negative Symptoms

Single Episode In Partial Remission; also specify if: With Prominent Negative Symptoms

Single Episode In Full Remission

Other or Unspecified Pattern

Answer 7

My son had headaches and we took him off of it. He was doing well on the risperdal but the dr thought he might gain less weight on the seroquel.

My favorite drug site is crazymeds.org

Answer 8

i take it for my moods and to counter act another side effect form lamictal (its makes me hyper and the seriquil helps me sleep) the only side effect that i get and that is very common is severe hunger.... god i have probably gained 5 lbs from being on it the past month lol

Answer 9

Sedation; delayed response, lethargy & possible weight gain.