Seroquel Side Effects

Black Box Warning

Before discussing Seroquel side effects, here is an important warning that you should be aware of.

• Studies have shown that elderly patients who have dementia-related psychosis and are being treated with atypical antipsychotics, such as Seroquel, are at an increased risk of death when compared to placebo. Though the deaths had different causes, most of them appeared to be related to the heart (in particular, due to heart failure and sudden death), or due to infections like pneumonia.
• Increased risk of suicidal thinking and suicidal behavior in children, adolescents and young adults with major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders.

Here is a breakdown of Seroquel side effects and the frequency with which they occur when used alone to treat schizophrenia and bipolar mania.

Frequently Occur:

• Agitation
• Asthenia translation general weakness/muscle weakness with lack of strength and energy
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Increased heart rate
• Increased liver enzymes
• Indigestion
• Pain
• Somnolence translation drowsiness/sleepiness
• Vomiting
• Weight gain

Sometimes Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Amblyopia translation lazy eye
• Anxiety
• Back pain
• Fever
• Gastroenteritis translation stomach infection/inflammation usually caused by bacteria
• Increase in the enzyme gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (please use Contact Me form if you need more information on this)
• Pharyngitis loose translation sore throat
• Postural hypotension translation a drop in blood pressure that results in dizziness or light-headedness when standing up
• Rash
• Runny nose

Rarely Occur:

• Accidental injury
• Akathisia translation a feeling of restlessness
• Chest pain
• Depression
• Developing an infection
• Diarrhea
• Extrapyramidal syndrome
• High blood pressure
• Hostility
• Hypertonia translation excessive muscle tone which leads to stiffness
• Increased appetite
• Increased coughing
• Insomnia
• Low blood pressure
• Low white blood cell count
• Malaise translation a general feeling of discomfort or not feeling well
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Skin tingling or numbness
• Sweating
• Swelling of the legs
• Tremor
• Weight loss

It is very difficult to slow down. The practice of medicine is
like the heart muscle's contraction - it's all or none.
- Bela Schick

Now here is a breakdown of Seroquel side effects when used in addition to other medication(s) to treat bipolar mania. These particular side effects may or may not actually be Seroquel side effects but since the drug was being studied in these patients who were being treated with other medications they are also included as Seroquel side effects.

Frequently Occur:

• Asthenia translation general weakness/muscle weakness with lack of strength and energy
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Headache
• Somnolence translation drowsiness/sleepiness

Sometimes Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Agitation
• Back pain
• Dizziness
• Pharyngitis loose translation sore throat
• Postural hypotension translation a drop in blood pressure that results in dizziness or light-headedness when standing up
• Tremor
• Weight gain

Rarely Occur:

• Akathisia translation a feeling of restlessness
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Nausea

Frequently Occur:

• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Sedation
• Somnolence translation drowsiness/sleepiness

Sometimes Occur:

• Dyspepsia translation indigestion
• Increased appetite
• Lethargy
• Nasal congestion
• Vomiting

Rarely Occur:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Upper respiratory tract infection

If a man thinks about his physical or moral state,
he usually discovers that he is ill.
- Goethe

Finally, here is a breakdown of Seroquel side effects of various doses of in patients being treated for schizophrenia.

Frequently Occur:

• Anorexia
• Difficulty breathing
• Dysarthria translation difficulty with articulating or speaking words
• Flu syndrome
• Heart palpitations
• Hypertonia translation excessive muscle tone which leads to stiffness
• Increased coughing
• Low white blood cell count
• Peripheral edema translation swelling in the legs
• Pharyngitis loose translation sore throat
• Runny nose
• Sweating

Sometimes Occur:

• Abnormal dreams
• Abnormal ejaculation
• Abnormal gait
• Abnormal taste sensation
• Abnormal thinking
• Abnormal vision
• Acne
• Alcohol intolerance
• Amenorrhea translation no menstrual period
• Amnesia
• Anemia
• Apathy
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Bleeding gums
• Bone pain
• Bruxism
• Bundle branch block (this is a heart-related problem)
• Catatonic reaction
• Cerebral ischemia
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Chills
• Confusion
• Conjunctivitis translation pinkeye or pink eye
• Contact dermatitis
• Cyanosis translation blue skin resulting from a lack of oxygen in the blood
• Cystitis
• Deep thrombophlebitis translation inflammation of the vein with blood clotting as well
• Dehydration
• Delusions
• Depersonalization
• Diabetes
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dry eyes
• Dyskinesia translation abnormal and/or involuntary muscle movements
• Ecchymosis translation skin discoloration due to bruising
• Eczema
• Eosinophilia translation an increase in the eosinophil (a type of white blood cell) count
• Eye pain
• Eyelid swelling
• Facial swelling
• Fecal incontinence
• Female lactation
• Flatulence translation excessive gas
• Gastritis translated inflammation of the stomach lining
• Gastroenteritis translated stomach infection/inflammation usually caused by bacteria
• GERD translation acid reflux
• Gingivitis
• Hallucinations
• Hemiplegia translation paralysis of one side of the body
• Hemorrhoids
• High blood sugar level
• High lipid levels
• Hyperkinesia translation an abnormal increase in muscular activity
• Hypochromia translation red blood cells with less than normal color
• Hypothyroidism
• Impotence
• Increase in alkaline phosphatase level (this is a liver enzyme)
• Increase in creatinine level
• Increase in the enzyme gamma glutamyl transpeptidase
• Increase in white blood cell count
• Increased appetite
• Increased libido
• Increased salivation
• Involuntary movements
• Irregular pulse
• Itching
• Joint pain
• Lack of coordination
• Leg cramps
• Leukorrhea translation thick, white, mucous discharge from the vagina
• Low blood sugar level
• Lymphadenopathy translation swollen or enlarged lymph nodes
• Maculopapular rash translation flat, raised lesions on the skin
• Malaise translated a general feeling of discomfort or not feeling well
• Manic reaction
• Metrorrhagia translation bleeding/spotting in between periods
• Migraine
• Moniliasis
• Mouth ulcers
• Myasthenia translation abnormal muscle weakness
• Myoclonus translation twitching or spasm of a muscle or group of muscles
• Neck pain
• Nose bleeds
• Orchitis translation inflamed testes
• Painful menstruation (obvously only in women)
• Painful urination
• Paranoid reaction
• Pathological fracture
• Pelvic pain
• Photosensitivity reaction
• Pneumonia
• Prolonged QT interval
• Psychosis
• Rectal bleeding
• Ringing in the ears
• Seborrhea translation excessive oily secretions from the skin
• Skin ulcer
• Slow heart rate
• Stomatitis
• Stupor
• Suicide attempt
• Tardive dyskinesia
• Thirst
• Tongue swelling
• Tooth cavities
• T-wave abnormality and T-wave inversion(this is a heart-related problem)
• Twitching
• Urinary frequency
• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary retention
• Vaginal hemorrhage translation abnormal bleeding from the vagina
• Vaginal moniliasis
• Vaginitis
• Vasodialtion translated widening of the blood vessels
• Vertigo
• Vulvovaginitis
• Weight loss

Rarely Occur:

• Abnormal heart rhythm, in particular atrial fibrillation
• Abnormality of accommodation (this is a vision-related problem)
• Acute kidney failure
• Angina pectoris translation intermittent, severe chest pain
• Aphasia translation loss of the ability to use or understand language
• Buccoglossal syndrome
• Choreoathetosis translation extreme range of motion, changing muscle tone and uncontrollable limb movement
• Congestive heart failure
• Deafness
• Decreased libido
• Delirium
• Emotional lability translated fluctuations of emotions such as laughing, crying, or having mood swings for no apparent reason
• Enlarged abdomen
• Euphoria
• Exfoliative dermatitis translation reddening and scaling of the skin
• First degree AV block (this is a heart-related problem)
• Glaucoma
• Glossitis translation tongue inflammation
• Gout
• Gynecomastia translation abnormal breast enlargement in men
• Hemolysis
• Hiccups
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hyperventilation
• Intestinal obstruction
• Low potassium level
• Melena translationblood in the stools (poop, feces)
• Neuralgia translation nerve pain
• Nocturia translation excessive urination at night
• Pancreatitis
• Polyuria translation frequent and excessive urination
• Psoriasis
• Skin discoloration
• ST abnormality, elevated ST, increased QRS duration and T-wave flattening (these are all heart-related problems)
• Stuttering
• Subdural hematoma
• Sugar in the urine
• Swelling of the hands
• Thrombocytopenia translation low platelet count
• Thrombophlebitis
• Vomiting blood
• Water intoxication

Post-Marketing Seroquel Side Effects

The following Seroquel side effects were reported after Seroquel was approved and being used by the general population. You should note though that they were reported voluntarily by folks in the general population so there is therefore no way to determine how often they occur or if there is even really a true connection between them and Seroquel. They are as follows:

• Agranulocytosis translation a marked decrease or complete disappearance of white blood cells
• Anaphylactic reaction translation major allergic reaction
• Cardiomyopathy translation a disorder of the heart muscle
• Low sodium level
• Myocarditis translation inflammation of the heart muscle tissue
• Restless legs
• Rhabdomyolysis translation the breakdown and disintegraton of muscle tissue
• Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
• Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-Diuretic Hormonesecretion (SIADH)

Our doctor would never really operate unless it was necessary. He was just that way.
If he didn't need the money, he wouldn't lay a hand on you.
- Herb Shriner

Want Even More Information...?

Now you know all about the possible Seroquel side effects, would you like to learn more about what drugs interact with Seroquel and other important warnings? We've created a special report that talks about the important drug interactions and warnings associated with Seroquel in easily understandable terms. It is packed full of tips on what to watch out for and what things you as an informed patient should do in the different scenarios.

It is available for a small fee of $2.99. Just click on the "Buy Now" button below to place your order and you can download it immediately!

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Drug Manufacturer Information

Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
P.O. Box 15437
Wilmington, DE 19850
302-886-3000

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May 1, 2009

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