SEROQUEL XR® (quetiapine fumarate)
AstraZeneca

Patient Stories

Meet Sandy, Melissa, and Steve

In these schizophrenia patient stories, Sandy, Melissa, and Steve describe what it is like to live with schizophrenia, and some of their experiences with SEROQUEL® (quetiapine fumarate). Their stories may sound familiar to you if you have been diagnosed with the disease.

These stories represent how SEROQUEL worked in some patients, they are not the experiences of patients who have taken SEROQUEL XR. Results may differ in other patients. No treatment is right for every patient. Only your doctor can decide what schizophrenia treatment is best for you. We hope that through these stories, you will see that you are not alone and that treatment is available for schizophrenia.

Please see the Important Safety Information.

Sandy, 46

I have been dealing with schizophrenia for over 20 years. Right now I am living on my own in an apartment building, seeing my family regularly, and taking classes. But it was a long time before I could live like this.

My symptoms started when I was about 25 when I started to hear voices. I was scared because I didn't understand what was happening to me, and I soon became very isolated. I was put on a lot of different medications at first, but nothing was helping me. Also, the side effects were frightening.

Eventually, I was hospitalized and put on a different treatment. After beginning this treatment, I noticed a significant increase in my appetite. I gained a lot of weight and became extremely unhappy.

Several years ago I started on SEROQUEL. I recently moved into a new apartment building in Los Angeles that is only a few hours from my son and his family. I never was able to do that before I started on this treatment. Now, I plan to visit my son and his family more and take more classes—right now I am in a computer class. I might even work part-time if I feel up to it.

I would like to tell other people who suffer from schizophrenia that there is help out there, and you must talk to your doctor to find out what is best for you. Your doctor can help you understand what is happening to you—you don't have to be scared. Learning about your disease is the best way to get the right medication. SEROQUEL works for me.

Please see Important Safety Information about SEROQUEL and SEROQUEL XR.

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Melissa, 57

I have been dealing with schizophrenia for over 4 years, but have been sick for a long time, relying on my family to take care of me for everything. Now, while I still live with my family, I am finally able to contribute to the household by doing some tasks around the house. But, this wasn't always the case.

I first realized something was wrong when I began to experience symptoms such as constantly being afraid, nervous, unable to eat or sleep, thinking people were constantly talking to me when they weren't, and having hallucinations. I went to my doctor who admitted me to the hospital for testing. The doctors there were not sure what was wrong with me and since that time, I have been on various medications, none of which seemed to really work for me. Finally, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and my doctor put me on SEROQUEL.

I would like to tell other people who suffer from schizophrenia that you should go to your doctor because he or she can help you. It will take some time before you feel like yourself again, but it can happen; and taking the right medication and sticking with it is critical.

Please see Important Safety Information about SEROQUEL and SEROQUEL XR.

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Steve, 40

I was diagnosed with schizophrenia 4 years ago, but I have been coping with this illness for more than 20 years. While I now live by myself and have recovered a great deal, the effects of this illness have played a significant role in shaping my life.

When I was younger, I started to become depressed, nervous, and anxious all the time. One day, however, I began to hallucinate. This frightened me and made me think I was crazy. I was put in the hospital where the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. They put me on this cycle where if one medication didn't work I was switched to another. As a result, I can't even remember all the names of the medications I was on or for how long I was on them.

The cycle was finally broken when I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and put on SEROQUEL.

Please see Important Safety Information about SEROQUEL and SEROQUEL XR.

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Learn how you can connect to support groups that can help you get through the daily challenges 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 bipolar disorder. If you have any questions about your condition, or if you would like more information about SEROQUEL or SEROQUEL XR, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Only you and your doctor can decide if SEROQUEL or SEROQUEL XR is right for you.

Important Safety Information About SEROQUEL and SEROQUEL XR

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

SEROQUEL is approved for depressive episodes and acute manic episodes in bipolar disorder; long-term maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder in combination with lithium or divalproex; and schizophrenia. SEROQUEL XR is a once daily tablet approved only 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 and SEROQUEL XR are 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; however, SEROQUEL is approved to treat bipolar depression. SEROQUEL and SEROQUEL XR are not approved for patients under the age of 18 years.

  • High blood sugar and diabetes have been reported with SEROQUEL, SEROQUEL XR, and medicines like them. 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 or 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, SEROQUEL XR, and medicines like them 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, SEROQUEL XR, and medicines like them 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 bipolar disorder and schizophrenia; tell your doctor if you have thoughts about death or suicide. Since drowsiness has been reported with SEROQUEL and 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 or SEROQUEL XR because both drugs increase the effects of alcohol. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated while taking SEROQUEL or SEROQUEL XR
  • Common side effects: The most common side effects are dry mouth, sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, weakness, abdominal pain, sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing, sore throat, weight gain, sluggishness, high blood sugar, nasal congestion, abnormal liver tests, and upset stomach

Talk to your doctor about prescription SEROQUEL or SEROQUEL XR.
Click here to see Prescribing Information for SEROQUEL and SEROQUEL XR, 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.

This product information is intended for US audiences only.
SEROQUEL and SEROQUEL XR are registered trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
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