SEROQUEL XR® (quetiapine fumarate)
AstraZeneca

Taking Care of a Loved One

Page Highlights

  • It is important to learn how to recognize and deal with the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia
  • Setting and achieving goals may help your loved one live a more rewarding, fulfilling life

“Oh no! Is he relapsing again? What should I do?”

Fear can overshadow the lives of people who care for those with schizophrenia. It is important that you know how to recognize and deal with the signs and symptoms of the disease, including:

  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Confused thinking and speech
  • Emotional flatness (lack of expression)

Start by talking to a health care provider about signs and symptoms that your loved one displays and ask for advice on how to handle specific situations.

Achieving goals will help your loved one live a more rewarding, fulfilling life.

Here are some general guidelines1:

  • Be natural and kind, not condescending
  • Stay as calm as possible
  • Simplify communications by making brief and unambiguous statements
  • Ask only one question at a time and wait for an answer
  • Do not belittle or argue about delusional beliefs
  • Encourage your loved one to express certain thoughts only in private
  • During times of withdrawal, it is acceptable to leave your loved one alone. However, caregivers should watch their loved one daily for signs of suicidal thoughts or actions
  • Do not expect too much from your loved one in social situations
  • Define limits regarding which behaviors are not acceptable (for example, dangerous behavior such as smoking in bed)

Remember, too, there is only so much you can do. There may be times you wish you could do more, but, unfortunately, you can’t make the disease “go away.” It’s important to accept the reality of schizophrenia and to have realistic expectations of your loved one.

“Will your loved one harm him- or herself?”

It is important to know that approximately 10% of people with schizophrenia commit suicide. Between 20% and 40% attempt suicide at least once over the course of their illness.2 This is another reason why early and effective treatment is so important.

Talk to your loved one’s doctor if you are worried. Individuals who experience heightened symptoms of schizophrenia may require intensive treatment, including hospitalization.3 Hospitalization is sometimes necessary to treat

  • Severe delusions or hallucinations
  • Serious suicidal thoughts
  • An inability to care for oneself
  • Severe problems with drugs or alcohol

“What kind of future can he or she have?”

When someone you love has schizophrenia, the illness can get in the way of leading a productive life. Finding an appropriate treatment plan and learning to cope with the day-to-day challenges is an important part of helping your loved one live with schizophrenia.

But try not to lose sight of the fact that you can help your loved one set goals and work to achieve them. Depending on how well your loved one is doing, the goal could be as simple as doing her own laundry or as challenging as completing a college degree. Achieving goals may help your loved one live a more rewarding, fulfilling life.


Next Taking Care of Yourself

Print this page

Learn how you can connect to support groups that can help you get through the daily challenges of schizophrenia.

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. American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). 4th ed., Text Revision. Arlington, Va; 2000:297-312.
  3. National Alliance on Mental Illness. About Mental Illness: Schizophrenia. http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7416. Accessed April 13, 2008.

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.  All rights reserved.  270760 11/08