About Seroquel (quetiapine)

Seroquel (generic name: quetiapine) is an antipsychotic medication manufactured by Astra Zeneca prescribed for the management of the symptoms of schizophrenia and manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, such as hallucinations, delusions or mental preoccupations beyond the control of a patient. It also is prescribed "off-label," that is, for conditions beyond its original approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Some of the other conditions Seroquel is often prescribed to treat include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• Sleep disorders
• Depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder

How does Seroquel work?

Like many of the "super drugs" manufactured and marketed by pharmaceutical companies, the exact mechanism that enables Seroquel to work for schizophrenic patients is not known. Seroquel targets specific areas of the brain that secrete the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, chemicals that regulate the nervous system's response to environmental stimuli. Certain mental disorders may be caused by excessive levels of these chemicals. Seroquel is said to have an "antagonistic" effect on certain dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain, allowing the chemicals to flow and function normally in the body.

Seroquel also has an antagonistic effect on the histamine receptor in the brain, producing a sedative effect. This is why Seroquel has been prescribed for insomnia and other sleep disorders, especially those associated with depression and other mental disorders.

Atypical Antipsychotics

Atypical antipsychotics are also known as second generation antipsychotics. Typical antipsychotics are the drugs that many of us might think of when we think of drugs given to schizophrenics or people having seizures; they are the "knockout," or neuroleptic, drugs that have severely sedative effects on patients. The first FDA-approved atypical antipsychotic was Clozaril (clozapine), approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in 1990. More commonly-prescribed atypical antipsychotics include:

• Risperdal
• Zyprexa
• Geodon
• Abilify
• Seroquel
• Serlect, Serdolect (not approved for sale in the U.S.)

All atypical antipsychotics carry warnings about their metabolic side effects, which have been of grave concern to clinicians and to the U.S. FDA. In 2003, the FDA required all manufacturers of atypical antipsychotics to change their labeling to include a warning about the risks of hyperglycemia and diabetes with atypical antipsychotics. Extreme hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar, has been reported in patients treated with all atypical antipsychotics. Seroquel has also been associated with ketoacidosis (insulin deficiency), coma or death, all stages of metabolic dysfunction common in untreated type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Many patients have reported unmanageable sugar cravings and hunger related to taking the atypical antipsychotics. Increased sugar cravings may lead to increased sugar intake, overloading the body's normal insulin production and causing it to shutdown. If you've been diagnosed with hyperglycemia or diabetes while taking an atypical antipsychotic, you may wish to consult with a lawyer about your specific situation. Diabetes can require lifetime management, lifestyle changes, medication and care.