A Mission for Michael (AMFM) has released a guide to quetiapine, commonly sold under the brand name Seroquel, answering common questions about its uses for schizophrenia and other mental health disorders. In the resource, readers will find information about typical doses, potential benefits, and side effects.
For more information, please visit https://amfmtreatment.com/quetiapine-seroquel/
Schizophrenia is one of the top 15 leading causes of disability worldwide, according to Lancet’s Global Burden of Disease Study. Surveys by JAMA Psychiatry have found that this disorder affects one in 100 people in the U.S., an equivalent to 3.4 million adults; despite its low prevalence, the National Institute of Mental Health says that it is associated with significant health, social, and economic concerns due to the disproportionately high healthcare costs and increased risks of death associated with the disorder.
Schizophrenia is characterized by distorted thought processes and perceptions, with common symptoms being hallucinations, delusions, cognitive dysfunction, and reduced emotional expression. Because its impacts on daily functioning can be severe, patients typically require professional care paired with medications to manage symptoms. One medication often prescribed to treat schizophrenia is quetiapine, as it is generally tolerated better than other dibenzothiazepine derivatives, according to AMFM’s guide.
Quetiapine can relieve schizophrenia and bipolar disorder symptoms by normalizing dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in better mood regulation and more stable thoughts and behaviors. Because of the drug’s effects, it can also reduce anxiety, OCD, depression, and sleep disorder symptoms, and it is often prescribed off-label for these purposes. AMFM’s guide notes that different conditions will require varying doses; for example, a sleep disorder may need less medication than severe schizophrenia.
While quetiapine is associated with fewer side effects than other psychotropic medications, AMFM advises users to be aware of vomiting, congestion, headaches, indigestion, and joint pain over the short term, and irritability, osteoporosis, weight gain, and tardive dyskinesia over the long term. Additionally, the medication comes with an FDA black box warning stating that it may increase the risk of death in elderly dementia patients.
Quetiapine should also never be stopped abruptly, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms. For those who want to quit, AMFM recommends slowly reducing their dose as directed by a healthcare professional.
More information is available at https://amfmtreatment.com/