Quetiapine (as quetiapine fumarate) tablets 25 mg, 100 mg ...

1 NEW ZEALAND CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION. QUETAPEL. Quetiapine (as Quetiapine fumarate) tablets 25 mg, 100 mg , 150 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg medicine has been prescribed for Before you start to take What is in this leaflet you. it: Your doctor may have prescribed it This leaflet answers some common for another reason. Tell your doctor if you have questions about Quetapel. allergies to any other medicines, Quetapel is not addictive. foods, preservatives or dyes. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the This medicine is available only with Tell your doctor if you have or place of talking to your doctor or a doctor's prescription.

2 Have had any of the following: pharmacist. heart problems and/or low All medicines have risks and Before you take blood pressure benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Quetapel Quetapel .. stroke problems with your circulation against the benefits they expect it high cholesterol will have for you. Do not take Quetapel if you have an allergy to: liver or pancreas problems diabetes or high blood sugar If you have any concerns about any medicine containing seizures (fits). taking this medicine, ask your Quetiapine fumarate uncontrollable twitching or doctor or pharmacist. any of the inactive ingredients jerking movements of the arms in Quetapel, which are listed at and legs Keep this leaflet with the the end of this leaflet low white blood cell count medicine.

3 You may need to read it difficulty in swallowing again. Some of the symptoms of an sleep apnoea temporarily allergic reaction may include: stopping breathing while shortness of breath; wheezing or sleeping What Quetapel is difficulty breathing; swelling of the difficulty passing urine used for face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on an enlarged prostate a blockage in your intestines or the skin. related conditions Quetapel is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. increased pressure inside your Do not give this medicine to a Schizophrenia is an illness with eyes or glaucoma child under the age of 18 years.

4 Disturbances in thinking, feelings Safety and effectiveness in children and behaviour. Bipolar disorder is If you have any of these it may not younger than 18 years have not an illness in which there are be appropriate for you to take been established. sustained mood swings either up Quetapel, or you may have to take (mania) or down (depression). a lower dose. Do not take this medicine after During mania, patients experience the expiry date printed on the episodes of overactivity, elation or Tell your doctor if you or pack or if the packaging is torn or irritability. During depression, someone else in your family has shows signs of tampering.

5 Patients may feel depressed or a history of blood clots. If it has expired or is damaged, guilty, lack energy, lose their Medicines like these have been return it to your pharmacist for appetite and have trouble sleeping. associated with formation of blood disposal. clots. Quetapel contains the active If you are not sure whether you ingredient Quetiapine fumarate. It If you drink alcohol, please mention should start taking this medicine, belongs to a group of medicines this to your doctor before you start talk to your doctor. called anti-psychotics, which to take Quetapel. improve the symptoms of certain types of mental illness.

6 Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become Ask your doctor if you have any pregnant or are breast-feeding. questions about why this Page 1 of 4. Your doctor can discuss with you including diuretics or fluid medicines you are taking and how the risks and benefits involved. tablets you may react to Quetapel. rifampicin for tuberculosis The following symptoms may occur barbiturates for sleeplessness Your doctor will monitor your in newborn babies, of mothers that thioridazine (an antipsychotic) condition and may change your have used Quetiapine in the last glucocorticosteriods dose depending on how you trimester (last three months of their medicines used to treat respond.)

7 Pregnancy): shaking, muscle inflammation stiffness and/or weakness, benzodiazapines medicines How to take it sleepiness, agitation, breathing used to treat anxiety or epilepsy problems, and difficulty in feeding. If medicines that have anti- Swallow your Quetapel tablets your baby develops any of these cholinergic (muscarinic) effects, whole with a full glass of water. symptoms you should contact your some medicines used to doctor. relieve stomach cramps or The different strengths of Quetapel spasms or some medicines to tablets come in different sizes and If you have not told your doctor manage symptoms of colours.

8 Therefore don't be about any of the above, tell overactive bladder surprised if the colour of your tablet him/her before you start taking differs from time to time. Quetapel. These medicines may be affected by Quetapel or may affect how well When to take it Taking other medicines it works. You may need different Quetapel is taken once or twice a amounts of your medicines, or you DO NOT TAKE QUETAPEL IF day depending on your condition. may need to take different YOU ARE TAKING THE medicines. FOLLOWING MEDICINES: Take your medicine at about the same time(s) each day. Your doctor and pharmacist have Protease inhibitors used for Taking it at the same time(s) each more information on medicines to Human Immunodeficiency day will have the best effect.

9 It will be careful with or avoid while taking Virus (HIV) also help you remember when to Quetapel. Azole antifungal agents such take it. as ketoconazole, It does not matter if you take this itraconazole, fluconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole and How to take medicine with or without food. voriconazole Quetapel Erythromycin How long to take it Clarithromycin Follow all directions given to you Nefazodone Continue taking your medicine by your doctor or pharmacist for as long as your doctor tells carefully. you. THESE MEDICINES AND They may differ from the information This medicine helps to control your QUETAPEL WILL INTERFERE contained in this leaflet.

10 Condition, but does not cure it. It is WITH EACH OTHER. important to keep taking your If you do not understand the medicine even if you feel well. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if instructions on the pack, ask you are taking any other your doctor or pharmacist for medicines, including any that you help. If you forget to take it get without a prescription from If it is almost time for your next your pharmacy, supermarket or Do not halve Quetapel 25 mg, dose (within 6 hours), skip the health food shop. 100 mg , 150 mg or 200 mg dose you missed and take your Some medicines and Quetapel may tablets . next dose when you are meant to.