Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) (pronounced SER-O-KWELL) is a medication that belongs to a class of medicines called "atypical antipsychotics".

Seroquel belongs to a group of atypical antipsychotics that are currently prescribed for more than 8 million people in many different countries. 

Seroquel has been on the market since 1997 and has been investigated extensively since 1989.

Seroquel is used in the treatment of schizophrenia and the manic phase of bipolar disorder.  Seroquel reduces the symptoms that accompany these conditions.

Doctors also sometimes prescribe Seroquel for other conditions.

Illnesses that affect the brain may be due to certain chemicals in the brain (dopamine and serotonin) being out of balance. These imbalances may be the cause of some of the symptoms that patients experience. Doctors and scientists are not sure what causes these imbalances to occur.

It is thought that Seroquel helps to create a better balance of these brain chemicals.  Although Seroquel will not cure the disorder, it can help patients manage their symptoms and help them feel better. In order to work properly, Seroquel must be taken every day as instructed by the doctor, even if a patient's symptoms have improved or disappeared.

Seroquel is taken as tablets.  The daily dose is adjusted for each patient’s needs.  Your doctor will advise you on the duration of therapy.

If you are taking Seroquel, 

• You must take it every day, exactly as your doctor tells you.  Expect your symptoms to start improving slowly within the first few weeks of treatment but it takes time to feel better.  You should not stop taking Seroquel or change the times you take it without talking to a doctor. 
  
  
• You may take Seroquel with or without food.  It is advisable, however, to swallow the tablets with water without chewing.
  
  
• Because Seroquel must be taken twice a day, it is better to take it at two fixed times, for example in the morning and in the evening before bedtime.

Like any medication, Seroquel produces side effects in some people.
Dizziness, drowsiness and light-headedness are the most common side effects experienced by people taking Seroquel. The dizziness and drowsiness are usually mild and should go away with time.

Other possible side effects include:

• headache 
• constipation 
• dry mouth 
• upset stomach or abdominal pain 
• some weight gain 
• changes in laboratory tests for liver and thyroid functions

Although rare with Seroquel use, this type of medication can cause muscle twitching or abnormal movements of your face and tongue.  If this occurs, your doctor should be informed immediately.

If you are taking Seroquel, you should contact a doctor or pharmacist if you notice any symptom that worries you, even if it is not listed here.

Different strengths of Seroquel tablet can be prescribed depending on which country you are in.  The name Seroquel and the strength is always written on the tablet.  Here are some examples of Seroquel tablets:

Doctors and pharmacists know which drugs can be taken simultaneously with Seroquel. You should let your doctor know if you are taking any other drugs.