Serious Side Effects of Seroquel

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition characterized by mood swings, depression, and in severe cases, hallucinations. Seroquel is one of the approved medications to treat bipolar disorder. It is taken in tablet form. Doctors recommend that you take the exact number of pills prescribed to you and that you take them on the same schedule each day to achieve the maximum benefit. The manufacturers of Seroquel state that it can be taken with or without food.

As with many other medications, Seroquel has potential side effects that can be mild, moderate or severe. The most common issues that people have while taking Seroquel are mild, and include dry mouth, fatigue, constipation, sore throat and weight gain. Reports of nasal congestion have also been associated with Seroquel use.

While many of the mild side effects from using Seroquel can be tolerated because the benefits of the medication outweigh them, serious side effects should never be ignored. Seroquel passes through the liver and, in some cases, the medication causes serious side effects pertaining to the liver. Because of this potential, it is important to keep all doctor appointments and complete all blood tests ordered by your doctor while you are taking Seroquel. A rare but potentially serious side effect of taking Seroquel is high blood sugar. High blood sugar is the cause of diabetes, so it is important to have your blood sugar checked periodically while taking Seroquel. Call your doctor if you develop symptoms of diabetes, such as constant thirst, increased urination or extreme fatigue. Seroquel is not recommended for treating bipolar in elderly patients because of its potential to interact negatively with dementia-related psychosis. Research has shown that elderly patients being treated for bipolar with Seroquel are at an increased risk for death as compared to elderly patients who were given a placebo. At times, Seroquel users have experienced severe depression, thoughts of suicide or suicide ideation. This has been shown to happen more often in teenagers, children and young adults than in other populations. For this reason, Seroquel has not been approved for use in anyone under 18 years old. Rarely, there is a side effect from Seroquel called neuroleptic malignant syndrome. If you are on Seroquel and develop rigidity in your muscles, a high fever or shaking and confusion, sweating or your heart rate changes, contact your doctor immediately. Tardive dyskunesia, (TD) which is characterized by twitching and movements of body parts including the tongue or face can also be a side effect of taking Seroquel. Studies have shown that this condition does not always go away after stopping the medication. In addition, the risk of developing TD increases with the length of time on the medication and the amount that is being taken. While these side effects are rare in the population of Seroquel users, they have been reported. If you develop symptoms of any of these side effects contact your doctor right away.

Seroquel is used by thousands of people throughout the world each day with no side effects. Side effects that do occur are usually mild and often disappear within a few days or weeks. The few people who experience serious side effects while taking Seroquel are usually removed from Seroquel and placed on a different medication.

Bipolar disorder can cause significant interference in a person's life. For many bipolar patients, Seroquel alone or in combination with other medications provides symptom relief that allows patients to conduct a productive life. For a few, however, the Seroquel can have serious side effects that can become life threatening. It is important to work closely with your doctor and mental health professionals to be sure that Seroquel is the best medication for treating your bipolar disorder.