What Is Schizophrenia?
Page Highlights
- Schizophrenia is a brain disease with clear and recognizable symptoms
- About 1% of Americans have schizophrenia
- There is no cure, but schizophrenia is treatable
An Overview of Schizophrenia
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, you are not alone.
About 1% of Americans have schizophrenia.1
Schizophrenia is a serious illness. It can sometimes make it very hard for
people with schizophrenia to tell what is real from what is not.
Equal numbers of men and women develop schizophrenia.1
Symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions) usually begin in men in their
late teens and early 20s and in women in their mid-20s to early 30s.1
Schizophrenia also affects people all over the world—in every kind of ethnic
group.1
Schizophrenia cannot be diagnosed by any one symptom.2 Instead, there
are usually two or more symptoms that
occur together.
For example, people with schizophrenia may hear voices other people don’t hear
(hallucinations).1 They may believe that others are reading their
minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them (delusions). People
with schizophrenia may not always make sense when they talk (disorganized
speech). They may have trouble remembering things. They may sit for hours
without moving or talking much, and experience a lack of pleasure in their
lives.
When a doctor carefully observes a patient’s symptoms over time, he or she can
almost always make a correct diagnosis.3
No One Is to Blame
Schizophrenia is not your fault. It is a disease.
- It is not the result of anything you have done wrong3
- It is not the result of anything your parents, your loved ones, or
anyone in your life has done wrong3
Schizophrenia tends to run in families,1 but, at this time, it is not
known exactly what causes the disease.3 Many researchers are
currently studying this question.
A Treatable Disease
Schizophrenia is a treatable disease, but there is no cure.1 However,
current schizophrenia treatments allow
many people with schizophrenia to lead more rewarding and fulfilling lives.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
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.
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 dry mouth, constipation,
upset stomach, sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, and a sudden drop in blood
pressure upon standing
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.