As an atypical antipsychotic,
Seroquel (quetiapine) and Ambien (zolpidem) are used to treat insomnia. The primary use of Ambien is for insomnia; Seroquel is used off-label to treat insomnia.
Clozapine and olanzapine have the safest therapeutic effect, while the side effect of neutropenia must be controlled by 3 weekly blood controls. If schizophrenia has remitted and if patients show a good compliance, the adverse effects can be controlled.
The biggest disadvantages of Seroquel are the potential long-term side effects, which can include tardive dyskinesia, increased blood sugar, cataracts, and weight gain. For teens and young adults, the medication may also cause an increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
If you take it for mania or depression in bipolar disorder, you may need to take it for a few weeks or months. Your doctor may suggest that you keep taking it for a long time, maybe several years, to stop your symptoms coming back.
Warnings: There may be a slightly increased risk of serious, possibly fatal side effects (such as stroke, heart failure, fast/irregular heartbeat, This medication is not approved for the treatment of dementia-related behavior problems.
Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) have a decreased risk of extrapyramidal side effects as compared to first-generation antipsychotics.
Apart from clozapine, the following two drugs—aripiprazole and paliperidone—have been shown to be most effective, whereas quetiapine, ziprasidone and haloperidol displayed a relatively short time to discontinuation.
Abruptly discontinuing Seroquel can result in withdrawal symptoms including dizziness, increased heart rate, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting. Never stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor first; your doctor may advise gradually tapering your dose over a period of a few months.
Data synthesis: Quetiapine is commonly used off-label for treatment of insomnia. When used for sleep, doses typically seen are less than the Food and Drug Administration-recommended dosage of 150-800 mg/day; those evaluated in the studies reviewed here were 25-200 mg/day).
Quetiapine (Seroquel) is an atypical antipsychotic that's used to improve mood, thoughts, and behaviors for people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The extended-release form of quetiapine (Seroquel) can also be used to treat depression when combined with another antidepressant.
Taking antipsychotics can increase your risk of developing metabolic syndrome. If you experiencing metabolic syndrome, this means you are at higher risk of developing: diabetes. stroke.
Adverse Effects. Amongst the many adverse effects of the first generation, or 'typical' antipsychotics, the most disturbing was Tardive Dyskinesia, which involves uncontrollable movements of face, hands and feet [2].
Antipsychotic drugs are harmful if you do not need them. For someone with dementia, antipsychotic drugs can make everyday activities more difficult. They also have dangerous side effects such as more anxiety, restlessness, loss of hunger or thirst, excessive sleeping and even death.
Drugs with the fastest onsets include haloperidol, risperidone, and olanzapine, with onsets appearing in 2 6 days. Chlorpromazine and thiothixene were at the slowest end of the continuum, with onsets of 2 weeks or longer.
Atypical Antipsychotics
Quetiapine (Seroquel) - known for extreme sedation and sometimes prescribed for anxiety or sleep disorders.
Atypical antipsychotics such as quetiapine, aripiprazole, olanzapine, and risperidone have been shown to be helpful in addressing a range of anxiety and depressive symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, and have since been used in the treatment of a range of mood and anxiety disorders ...
Olanzapine has an average rating of 5.7 out of 10 from a total of 1021 ratings on Drugs.com. 45% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 34% reported a negative effect. Quetiapine has an average rating of 7.2 out of 10 from a total of 2122 ratings on Drugs.com.
Quetiapine can cause postural hypotension so it should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disease. Other common adverse effects are somnolence, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness and altered liver function.
Quetiapine may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can infrequently result in serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.
Adults—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 750 mg per day. Children 13 to 17 years of age—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day.
While not a certainty, long‐term antipsychotic treatment is a very common outcome for people with schizophrenia.
Some people may be able to stop taking antipsychotics without problems, but others can find it very difficult. If you have been taking them for some time, it can be more difficult to come off them. This is especially if you have been taking them for one year or longer.