Getting Started on SEROQUEL XR

Page Highlights

  • Your doctor may adjust your dose until you're getting the amount that is appropriate for you
  • Take SEROQUEL XR exactly the way your doctor tells you
  • If you feel the need to stop treatment, talk to your doctor first

Starting and Staying on SEROQUEL XR

When you start SEROQUEL XR, your doctor will prescribe a very specific dose of medicine each day. This dose may be adjusted later on. This gives your body a chance to adapt to the new medication and make sure you get the dose that is right for you.

When your health care provider feels that the correct dose has been reached, continue to take SEROQUEL XR exactly as directed.

If you feel the need to stop treatment, talk to your doctor first.

Common Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about taking SEROQUEL XR.

How should I be taking SEROQUEL XR?

  • You should be taking SEROQUEL XR once daily. The evening is
    often best—without food or with a light meal of around 300 calories1
  • Since many people may take SEROQUEL XR around dinner, make sure you plan to take SEROQUEL XR at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal of more than approximately 300 calories2
  • SEROQUEL XR tablets should be swallowed whole. Tablets should not be crushed, chewed, or split1

What should I do if I miss a dose?

  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible unless it is almost time for your next dose
  • If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular dosing schedule
  • Do not take 2 doses at once
  • If you are unsure, talk with your health care provider

Discuss these and any other questions about SEROQUEL XR and schizophrenia with your health care provider.

How can I identify SEROQUEL XR?

Images are not actual size and color may vary slightly.

When taking any prescription medicine, you want to make absolutely certain that what you are taking is what the doctor prescribed for you. If you go to the pharmacy and pick up a prescription that doesn't say SEROQUEL XR on the label, ask the pharmacist to call your doctor right away–or call the doctor yourself.

Make sure you are able to identify each medicine you take. This can help you to avoid mistakes that could be harmful to your health—for example, taking the wrong pill at the wrong time.

As the images show, SEROQUEL XR comes in different dosage strengths and the tablets are different colors, shapes and sizes, depending on the dosage strength. Your doctor will prescribe the amount of medicine that he or she feels is most appropriate for you when beginning treatment with SEROQUEL XR and during treatment.


Next What to Tell Your Doctor

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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. SEROQUEL XR Prescribing Information. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
  2. Pelegrin GM. Understanding the food-drug relationship. Pharmacy Times Web site. December 2001. Available at: http://www.pharmacytimes.com/article.cfm?ID=260. Accessed September 12, 2007.

View the SEROQUEL XR Tablets
This product information is intended for US audiences only.
SEROQUEL XR is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
©2008 AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
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