Seroquel is an antipsychotic medication prescribed to treat mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Seroquel is only FDA-approved for use in patients age 18 and older, but one of its off-label uses is to treat mental illness in children and adolescents. This is a fairly common practice in the medical field. Although it is not FDA-approved for children, many of its effects in the younger population are known, and the benefits of taking Seroquel to treat mental illness outweigh the risks in some children and adolescents. It is not known precisely how Seroquel works to treat mental illnesses, but it is believed to affect brain receptors.
Suicidal Thoughts
Seroquel and other antidepressants are known to increase the odds of suicidal thoughts and actions in children, teens and young adults. If a patient taking Seroquel presents suicidal behaviors or tendencies, a doctor should be contacted immediately.
Worsening Mood
In rare cases, children and young adults taking Seroquel may begin to exhibit worsening symptoms of depression, including aggressive behavior, agitation, impulsiveness, panic attacks, anxiety attacks and hallucinations. Any changes or worsening of a patient's original symptoms should be reported to a doctor.
Neurological Effects
Some neurological effects of Seroquel could indicate potential complications in some patients. Trembling, confusion, difficulty speaking or concentrating, difficulty swallowing, uncontrolled muscle spasms or movements, seizures, memory loss, facial twitching, numbness or tingling and chronic headaches or dizziness should be reported to a doctor.
Other Serious Side Effects
Other serious side effects possibly developed by children and young adults taking Seroquel include irregular or rapid heartbeat, fever or other flu-like symptoms, muscle pain or weakness, swelling of the feet, hands and legs, increased saliva or drooling and changes to the menstrual cycle. Such symptoms should all be reported to a doctor.
Less Serious Side Effects
Sore throat, nasal congestion, constipation, dry mouth, upset stomach or vomiting, fatigue, weakness or weight gain are all known side effects of Seroquel, but these are not considered cause for concern.
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