Seroquel XR™ international gateway page for healthcare professionals
Seroquel XR™ international gateway page for healthcare professionals
Please note that the information presented here is based on the Seroquel XR European Medicines Agency Summary of Product Characteristics.1 As regulatory conditions and approved indications for Seroquel XR are country specific, please consult your local prescribing information. Please also consult your local prescribing information for full safety and tolerability information.
About Seroquel XR
Seroquel XR (extended release quetiapine fumarate) is a once-daily oral tablet of the extended release formulation of quetiapine fumarate. Seroquel XR belongs to the atypical antipsychotic drug class. Seroquel XR should be administered once daily, without food. The tablets should be swallowed whole and not split, chewed or crushed.1 Different dosing schedules exist for each approved indication. Please refer to your local prescribing information for approved indications and dosing information.
Seroquel XR indications
Seroquel XR (extended release quetiapine fumarate) is indicated for:
- Treatment of schizophrenia, including:
- Preventing relapse in stable schizophrenic patients who have been maintained on Seroquel XR - Treatment of bipolar disorder:
- For the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes in bipolar disorder
- For the treatment of major depressive episodes in bipolar disorder
- For the prevention of recurrence in patients with bipolar disorder, in patients whose manic or depressive episode has responded to quetiapine treatment - Add-on treatment of major depressive episodes in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have had sub-optimal response to antidepressant monotherapy. Prior to initiating treatment, clinicians should consider the safety profile of Seroquel XR.
Safety
It is important to consider the safety profile of Seroquel XR (extended release quetiapine fumarate) prior to initialising treatment. As Seroquel XR is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and add on treatment of major depressive episodes in patients with MDD who have had sub-optimal response to antidepressant monotherapy, the safety profile should be considered with respect to the individual patient’s diagnosis and the dose being administered.
The most commonly reported adverse events with quetiapine are somnolence, dizziness, dry mouth, mild asthenia, constipation, tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension and dyspepsia. As with other antipsychotics, weight gain, syncope, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, leucopenia, neutropenia and peripheral oedema, have been associated with quetiapine.1
Please refer to your local Seroquel XR prescribing information for full details on safety and tolerability.
Adverse events should be reported. Please contact your local adverse event reporting authority should your patient experience an adverse event. For those in the UK, reporting forms and information can be found at www.yellowcard.gov.uk. Adverse events should also be reported to AstraZeneca.
Reference
- Seroquel XRTM European Medicines Agency (EMA) Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). Last updated 19 December 2011. Seroquel XR SmPC is available here