Seroquel (also known as Quetiapine or Ketipinor ) is manufactured by Astra-Zeneca and is commonly prescribed to bipolar patients and was initially used as an antipsychotic for schizophrenics.
Remember! All drugs have side effects and a treatment option that works for one person may not work for another. Always consult with a medical professional before starting a new treatment regimen and accurately study all risk factors personally.
People suffering from dementia, heart disease, thyroid disorder, high cholesterol, epilepsy, or who are pregnant should not take Seroquel. Check with your psychiatrist for additional restrictions.
Currently the exact mechanism through which bipolar disorder / manic depression works is unknown however two clinical trials of Seroquel trials have provided promising results.
It can take a few weeks for seroquel to start working and doses vary, however, in clinical studies, bipolar people treated for the lows of depression and the highs of mania showed the following improvements.
Depressive symptoms
Less sadness Less pessimism More normal sleep Less edgy and tense
These people also showed improvement in other depressive symptoms:
·Reduced appetite
·Concentration difficulties
·Fears
·Inability to perform everyday tasks
Manic symptoms
·Fewer racing thoughts
·Better judgment
·More normal sleep
·Less irritability
People also experienced less of the follow symptoms of mania.
·Elevated mood
·Distractibility
·Agitation
·Disheveled appearance
·Hypersexuality
·Aggressive behavior
·Talking too fast
Studies
Calabrese JR, Keck PE, Macfadden W, Minkwitz M, Ketter TA, Weisler RH, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Quetiapine in the treatment of bipolar I or II depression. Am J Psychiatry. 2005;162:1351–1360.
Thase, ME, Macfadden W, Weisler RH, Chang W, Paulsson B, Khan A, et al. Efficacy of Quetiapine monotherapy in bipolar I and II depression: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006;26:600–609.
Vieta E, Mullen J, Brecher M, Paulsson B, Jones M. Quetiapine monotherapy for bipolar mania associated with bipolar disorder: combined analysis of two international, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies. Curr Med Res Opin. 2005;21(6):923-934.