Thursday, July 8, 2010

Seroquel Facts

Seroquel is an anti-psychotic medication typically used to treat mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic depression). Because Seroquel changes mood, family, friends and caregivers should be aware of the symptoms of the illness and report them to a doctor if they are troubling.


How It Works


Seroquel works by changing the chemical levels in the brain, affecting how the patient thinks and acts.


Take It


Seroquel is a controlled-release medication, meaning it disperses medication over time after being ingested. Because of this, the pill should be swallowed whole and never broken or chewed.


Serious Side Effects


Contact a doctor immediately if any of the following side effects are present: jerky movements, numbness, weakness, rapid or irregular heartbeat, unexplained sweating, stiff muscles, confusion, speech problems, sudden headache, infrequent urination, increased thirst or hunger and frequent urination.


Non-Serious Side Effects


There are some known side effects of taking Seroquel that are not serious and do no necessitate informing your doctor. They include dizziness, dry mouth, nasal congestion, weight gain, breast swelling, breast discharge, headaches, stomach pain, constipation, blurred vision and missed menstrual periods.


Dangers


Seroquel should never be taken by people with age-related dementia because it can increase the risk of sudden death and death from pneumonia and heart problems.

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