Seroquel is a medication designed to stabilize the mood swings of people who have bipolar disorder. It was introduced in 1997 and was approved as bipolar treatment in 2004. Seroquel is approved to treat acute manic and depressive moods for bipolar disorder. Seroquel is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, as with any medications, Seroquel comes with some risks of side effects.
Most Common Side Effects
The manufacturers of Seroquel state that the medication's most common side effects are feelings of sedation, headaches, dry mouth, feeling lightheaded and dizzy, abdominal aches, weakness, lethargy, blood pressure drops when attempting to stand up from sitting, sore throat, weight gain, high blood pressure, nasal congestion, upset stomach and abnormal liver test results.
More Severe Side Effects
If you experience a high fever, shaking or tremors, confusion, excessive sweating, stiff muscles, changes in heart rate or pulse, appetite or thirst changes, increased urination, unprovoked and uncontrollable body movements (such as of the tongue, face or other body parts), you should immediately cease using Seroquel and contact a physician.
Considerations
Before you consider taking Seroquel, consult with a doctor, especially if you have experienced suicidal feelings, seizures (or you are at risk of them), high cholesterol, a low white blood cell count (WBC), diabetes or a history of the disease in your family. You could be at higher risk for negative--and even potentially fatal--side effects if you have any of these conditions.
Warning
Another potential side effect of Seroquel is feeling drowsy and excessively tired. When you first start taking Seroquel, you should not drive or operate any type of machinery. However, after you have taken Seroquel for awhile, your drowsiness and fatigue should start to subside.
Less Common Side Effects
There are some less common side effects that are associated with Seroquel that are usually minor and go away on their own. Between 2 and 10 percent of users report these symptoms. These side effects include back pain, nausea, vomiting, vision problems, runny nose (or nose irritation), indigestion and heartburn.
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