The half-life of Seroquel is about six hours. This means that in six hours, half of the dose is gone. In another six hours, half the remaining dose is gone, so your serum level is about down to 25.
Do not use it after the use by (expiry) date printed on the pack. Do not use it if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal. If you are not sure whether you should start taking Seroquel, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
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.
How Long Does Seroquel Stay in Your System? The half-life of Seroquel is six hours. Theoretically, it takes approximately six hours to clear 50 percent of the active drug from your system after you stop taking it and 24 to 48 hours to completely clear it after cessation.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is found in omega-3 fish oils and is thought to have beneficial effects in mitigating psychiatric symptoms such as those found in patients with schizophrenia, a safe alternative to Seroquel.
The antipsychotics most commonly used to treat insomnia are quetiapine (Seroquel) (dosed at 25–250 mg) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) (dosed at 2.5–20 mg). Olanzapine has a tmax of 4–6 hours, making it better suited for the treatment of sleep maintenance problems than for sleep onset problems.
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.
You'll usually start on a low dose of 50mg a day when taking standard tablets. This will be increased over a few days to start with. Your doctor may advise you to slowly increase your dose even more, depending on how well quetiapine works for you. Most people feel better with a daily dose of 300mg to 600mg.
Seroquel (generic name quetiapine) can really make people feel sleepy; that's one of its most common side effects. In fact, many doctors use it as a sleeping pill for just that reason, and often at exactly the dose you are taking -- 50 mg.
It is important that you continue taking quetiapine regularly even if you are feeling well, as it can prevent symptoms from returning. Talk with your doctor if you feel quetiapine treatment has not been helpful or if side effects are too bothersome. Your doctor may recommend switching you to a different medication.
Over time, especially if abused, Seroquel can lead to the development of several adverse, and potentially long-lasting side effects. In some instances, these effects are reversible when use of the drug ends, but in other situations, the changes can be permanent.
This drug may also cause significant weight gain and a rise in your blood cholesterol (or triglyceride) levels. These effects, along with diabetes, may increase your risk for developing heart disease.
Drugs such as quetiapine raise the risk of death in seniors who have dementia. Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors warning: During the first few months of treatment, quetiapine may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults.
Expired medical products can be less effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance.
Quetiapine is neither approved nor recommended for primary insomnia although the drug is often prescribed off-label as a sleep aid. There is evidence of addiction to quetiapine. Side effects associated with quetiapine — such as next morning hangover symptoms and daytime fatigue — means that patients should be cautious.
The main effect that quetiapine has is to block the effects of dopamine in the brain, resulting in a reduction of symptoms. Quetiapine also has effects on other neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin, and its beneficial effects may be related to this as well.
Maintenance dose: 400 to 800 mg once a day. Maximum dose: 800 mg/day.
Adults—At first, 300 milligrams (mg) once a day in the evening. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 800 mg per day. Children 13 to 17 years of age—At first, 50 mg once a day in the evening.
In addition to its antihistamine effects, Seroquel also blocks the neurotransmitter dopamine, which may contribute to its sedative effects. But may also dampen the reward system which can make life feel a little dull. Some people even describe feeling like a zombie, especially at higher doses.
Bottom Line. Seroquel is an antipsychotic that helps to calm and relieve psychotic thoughts. It is often given because it is quite sedating; however, care is needed because it also lowers blood pressure.
Although studies have linked Seroquel to diabetes and other serious side effects, the drug is still on the market. Angry that AstraZeneca is still earning profits on the seemingly defective drug, individuals adversely affected by Seroquel have pursued lawsuits against the manufacturer.
Clozapine, which has the strongest antipsychotic effect, can cause neutropenia.
Are Seroquel and Lithium the Same Thing? Seroquel (quetiapine) and lithium (brand name: Lithobid) are used to treat bipolar disorder. Seroquel is also used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old, and major depression. Seroquel and lithium belong to different drug classes.