SEROQUEL XR® (quetiapine fumarate)
AstraZeneca

Living With Schizophrenia

Page Highlights

  • Learning about schizophrenia and its treatment can help you decrease your risk of relapse
  • Ask others for the support and comfort you need
  • Setting goals can help you feel positive about your future

Take Control of Your Condition

A diagnosis of schizophrenia may seem frightening. There may be struggles and challenges every day. And, at times, you may feel like you are riding a rollercoaster. But you can learn how to help manage your schizophrenia symptoms.

Minimizing Relapses

Schizophrenia has its ups and downs; sometimes for no obvious reason.1 Often the cause of a relapse, however, is a failure to stay on medication. Symptoms of schizophrenia usually return if you stop your medication.2

You can take steps to help reduce how often your symptoms relapse:

  • Stick with your doctor’s treatment plan for schizophrenia, including your medication1
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs1
  • Create a list of your personal warning signs that may signal an oncoming relapse. Share it with your friends and family so they will also know what signs to look for to help you head off a relapse.1 Examples might include feeling withdrawn or sad, having difficulty concentrating, or neglecting your appearance3
  • Identify things you find stressful and avoid them when possible1

If you think symptoms are returning, let your doctor know right away. Your doctor may adjust your medication dosage or may change your medication.

“Finding the right treatment plan for schizophrenia is important. It is also important to set goals and work toward them.”

Finding Support

Living with schizophrenia can be difficult. The truth is that now, more than ever, you need support. In addition to your friends and family, look for sources of support and comfort from others around you such as

  • Social workers
  • Peer support groups that can connect you with people who know just what you are going through
  • Self-help groups for you and your family
  • Others in your community or place of worship who are concerned about you

Setting Goals

When you are living with schizophrenia, the illness can sometimes get in the way of feeling productive and happy. Finding the right treatment plan for schizophrenia is important. It is also important to set goals and work toward them.

While schizophrenia may make it difficult to look ahead, setting goals can help you feel good about your future. Work with your friends, family, and others to set realistic goals that you can achieve.

CAREGIVER TIPS

Facing a Troubling Reality

Approximately half of people with schizophrenia have limited awareness of their disease.1 They may not recognize their own sickness, and it can be very difficult—if not impossible—to convince them otherwise. This can obviously be frustrating for caregivers, but it is a reality you may have to accept.


Next Treatments for Schizophrenia

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Our online tools are designed to help your loved one stick with his or her treatment plan.


The information on this Web site should not take the place of talking with your doctor or health care professional about how to manage and treat schizophrenia. If you have any questions about your condition, or if you would like more information about SEROQUEL XR, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Only you and your doctor can decide if SEROQUEL XR is right for you.

Important Safety Information About SEROQUEL XR

This is not a complete summary of safety information. Please discuss the full Prescribing Information with your health care provider.

SEROQUEL XR is a once daily tablet approved to treat schizophrenia.

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss) treated with this type of medicine are at an increased risk of death, compared to placebo (sugar pill). SEROQUEL XR is not approved for treating these patients.

Antidepressants have increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults. Patients of all ages starting treatment should be watched closely for worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, unusual changes in behavior, agitation, and irritability. Families and caregivers should watch patients daily and report these symptoms immediately to the physician. SEROQUEL XR is not approved to treat depression. SEROQUEL XR is not approved for patients under the age of 18 years.

  • High blood sugar and diabetes have been reported with SEROQUEL XR and medicines like it. If you have diabetes or risk factors such as obesity or a family history of diabetes, ask your doctor about checking your blood sugar before starting SEROQUEL XR and regularly throughout treatment. If you develop symptoms of high blood sugar or diabetes, such as excessive thirst or hunger, increased urination, or weakness, contact your doctor. Complications from diabetes can be serious and even life threatening
  • A rare, but potentially fatal, side effect reported with SEROQUEL XR and medicines like it is neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Tell your doctor if you have very high fever; rigid muscles; shaking; confusion; sweating; changes in pulse, heart rate, or blood pressure; or muscle pain and weakness because treatment should be stopped if you have NMS
  • Another serious side effect reported with SEROQUEL XR and medicines like it is tardive dyskinesia (TD)—uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, or other parts of the body. TD may become permanent, and the risk of TD is believed to increase as the length of time on and the amount of these medications increase. While TD can develop in patients taking low doses for short periods, this is much less common. There is no known treatment for TD, but it may go away partially or completely if treatment is stopped
  • Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have high cholesterol or have a history of, or are at risk for, seizures or a low white blood cell (WBC) count. An eye exam for cataracts is recommended at the beginning of treatment and every 6 months thereafter. During treatment, tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or lightheaded upon standing. Suicidal thoughts or actions may occur in schizophrenia; tell your doctor if you have thoughts about death or suicide. Since drowsiness has been reported with SEROQUEL XR, you should not participate in activities such as driving or operating machinery until you know that you can do so safely. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking SEROQUEL XR because SEROQUEL XR increases the effects of alcohol. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated while taking SEROQUEL XR
  • Common side effects: The most common side effects are drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, upset stomach, dizziness, a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing, weight gain, increased hunger, tiredness, difficulty speaking, and stuffy nose.

Talk to your doctor about prescription SEROQUEL XR.
Click here to see Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warnings.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

 

REFERENCES:

  1. Torrey EF. Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Consumers and Providers. 5th ed. New York, NY: HarperCollins; 2006:106.
  2. National Institute of Mental Health. Schizophrenia. NIH Publication No. 06-3517. January 2007. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-booket---2006.pdf. Accessed
    April 13, 2008.
  3. American Psychiatric Association. Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia, Second Edition. American Psychiatric Association; 2002.

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