Seroquel

Seroquel®

Seroquel Dangers
Seroquel (quetiapine) is pharmaceutical drug in the class of atypical antipsychotics approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997. Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia which include hearing voices, seeing things, sensing things that are not there, mistaken beliefs, and paranoia (1). Seroquel is also used in the treatment of mania associated with bipolar disorder.

In January of 2004, four different organizations issued a warning regarding a study which linked six different atypical antipsychotic drugs to diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol which can raise a person's risk of heart disease. The medical societies, which included the American Diabetes Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, suggested that doctors closely monitor their patients after treatment is started for signs of adverse side effects (2).

Seroquel is also under advisory for its link to an increased chance of death in elderly patients taking the drug for the off-label treatment of dementia. In April 2005 the FDA issued a warning for atypical antipsychotic drugs (including Seroquel) which stated, the FDA has found that older patients treated with atypical antipsychotics for dementia had a higher chance for death than patients who did not take the medicine (1).

What are the risks?
Seroquel can cause serious health problems such as:

Hyperglycemia and Diabetes
Extreme events of hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis (a serious condition that can lead to coma or death) have been reported in patients taking atypical antipsychotics, including Seroquel.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
A potentially fatal nervous system disorder that causes high fever, stiff muscles, sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, change in blood pressure, and confusion. NMS can also affect your kidneys. NMS is considered to be a medical emergency; call a doctor immediately if you experience the above symptoms.

Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)
Tardive dyskinesia is a syndrome affecting the central nervous system. TD is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions which force parts of the body into abnormal and sometimes painful movements or postures. TD is primarily characterized by random movements in the tongue, lips, or jaw as well as facial grimacing, movements of the arms, legs, fingers and toes, or even swaying movements of the trunk or hips (3).

Other serious side effects
Seroquel may also cause low blood pressure, dizziness, increased heart beat and fainting, cataracts, seizures, low thyroid, elevated cholesterol or triglycerides, liver problems, persistent erection, changes in body temperature, and difficulty swallowing. Common side effects include headache, dry mouth, agitation, constipation, pain, vomiting, upset stomach, and weight gain (1).

What should I do if I am taking Seroquel?
Never stop taking any medication without first consulting your doctor. If you or someone you care about has taken or is taking Seroquel and has experienced significant weight gain, tardive dsykinesia, diabetes, ketoacidosis, or developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome, call a Seroquel lawyer at our firm today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Sources:

1. Patient Information Sheet Quetiapine Tablets (marketed as Seroquel )from the Food and Drug Administrationaccessed on 11/17/05.
2. Risks of Anti-Psychotic Drugs Eyed from the Associated Press on CBS News accessed on 11/21/05.
3. Tardive Syndromes from the University of Kansas Medical Center Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center accessed on 08/18/05

Seroquel is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies and is used here only to identify the product in question.

This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with AstraZeneca or any of its companies, the Food and Drug Administration, the Associated Press, CBS News, or the University of Kansas Medical Center.

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