Quetiapine belongs to a class of medications known as antipsychotics. It is used to treat symptoms of Schizophrenia, manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, and depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. It works by affecting the actions of certain chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters.

Teva Quetiapine may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Teva Quetiapine may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Teva Quetiapine may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Teva Quetiapine for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Teva Quetiapine, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Teva Quetiapine without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Teva Quetiapine to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Teva Quetiapine if their doctor has not prescribed it.

The usual recommended starting dose for schizophrenia is 25 mg twice daily. Quetiapine is usually started with a low dose in order to allow the body to get used to it. This dose is increased as tolerated to a target dose of 150 mg twice daily. No more than 400 mg twice daily should be taken as the safety of higher doses has not been established.

For manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, the recommended starting dose is 50 mg twice daily. This dose is increased every day up to 400 mg twice daily as tolerated. Most people respond to doses between 200 mg and 400 mg twice daily.

For depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder, the recommended starting dose is 50 mg once daily, usually at bedtime. This dose is increased every day up to 300 mg once daily as tolerated.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

Quetiapine can be taken with or without food. Do not stop taking Teva Quetiapine or change the time of the day you take it without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor to ensure that you are getting the maximum benefit from the medication. If you miss a dose by a few hours, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If most of the day has passed since the missed dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Teva Quetiapine at room temperature, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Teva Quetiapine. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Teva Quetiapine with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Teva Quetiapine. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• abdominal pain
• Constipation
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• Dry Mouth
• headache
• increased sense of hunger
• indigestion or upset stomach
• irritability
• lightheadedness or dizziness when rising from a lying or sitting position
• stuffy or runny nose
• vomiting
• weight gain

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• abnormal dreams, nightmares, sleepwalking, sleeping eating, or other sleeping behaviours
• abnormal muscle movements or stiffness
• blurred vision
• breast development (males)
• confusion
• fainting
• feeling of slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat
• involuntary movements of face and tongue
• menstrual changes
• new or worsening constipation
• problems swallowing
• restless legs (an unpleasant sensation in the legs)
• signs of Anemia (low red blood cells; e.g., dizziness, pale skin, unusual tiredness or weakness, shortness of breath)
• signs of clotting problems (e.g., unusual nosebleeds, bruising, blood in urine, coughing blood, bleeding gums, cuts that don't stop bleeding) 
• signs of a blood clot in the arm or leg (tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in the arm or leg) or lungs (difficulty breathing, sharp chest pain that is worst when breathing in, coughing, coughing up blood, sweating, or passing out)
• signs of infection (such as Fever, chills, muscle aches, or sore throat)
• signs of liver problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, Diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, skin rash, itching)
• Sleep Apnea (interruptions in breathing while sleeping)
• speech changes
• swelling of arms, feet, or lower legs
• symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., frequent urination, increased thirst, excessive eating, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing, infections, fruity breath odour)
• symptoms of Hypothyroidism (e.g., dry skin, constipation, weight gain, fatigue, aches, pains and stiffness, intolerance to cold, Depression, memory problems)
• urinary retention (inability to pass urine)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• fainting
• long-lasting (more than 4 hours) and painful erection
• seizures (e.g., loss of consciousness with uncontrollable shaking)
• signs of pancreatitis (e.g., abdominal pain on the upper left side, back pain, nausea, fever, chills, rapid heartbeat, swollen abdomen)
• signs of Stroke (e.g., sudden or severe headache; sudden loss of coordination; vision changes; sudden slurring of speech; or unexplained weakness, numbness, or pain in arm or leg)
• symptoms of an allergic reaction (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; Hives; swelling of the eyes, mouth, lips, or throat)
• symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (e.g., high fever, muscle stiffness, increased heart beat, and reduced consciousness)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Teva Quetiapine.

25 mg
Each peach, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved with "N" on one side and "25" on the other side, contains quetiapine fumarate equivalent to 25 mg of quetiapine free base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dibasic calcium phosphate, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and sodium starch glycolate; coating: FD&C Yellow No. 6, glycerol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, lactose monohydrate, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, titanium dioxide, and triacetate.

100 mg
Each yellow, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved with "N" on one side and "100" on the other side, contains quetiapine fumarate equivalent to 100 mg of quetiapine free base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dibasic calcium phosphate, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and sodium starch glycolate; coating: FD&C Yellow No. 6/sunset yellow FCF Aluminium Lake 15%-18%, glycerol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, iron oxide yellow, lactose monohydrate, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, titanium dioxide, and triacetate.

150 mg
Each pale yellow, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved with "N" on one side and "150" on the other side, contains quetiapine fumarate equivalent to 150 mg of quetiapine free base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dibasic calcium phosphate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, iron oxide yellow, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, povidone, sodium starch glycolate, titanium dioxide, and triacetin.

200 mg
Each white, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved with "N" on one side and "200" on the other side, contains quetiapine fumarate equivalent to 200 mg of quetiapine free base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dibasic calcium phosphate, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and sodium starch glycolate; coating: FD&C Yellow No. 6, glycerol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, titanium dioxide, and triacetate.

300 mg
Each white, capsule-shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved with "N" on one side and "300" on the other side, contains quetiapine fumarate equivalent to 300 mg of quetiapine free base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dibasic calcium phosphate, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and sodium starch glycolate; coating: FD&C Yellow No. 6, glycerol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, titanium dioxide, and triacetate.

Quetiapine should not be taken by anyone who is allergic to quetiapine or to any of the ingredients of the medication.

There may be an interaction between quetiapine and any of the following:

• Abiraterone
• aclidinium
• alcohol
• Alfuzosin
• alpha agonists (e.g., Clonidine, methyldopa)
• amantadine
• Amiodarone
• amphetamines (e.g., Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine)
• angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs; Captopril, Enalapril, Ramipril)
• angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; e.g., Candesartan, Irbesartan, Losartan)
• certain antihistamines (e.g., Chlorpheniramine, Dimenhydrinate Diphenhydramine)
• anti-Parkinsons medications (e.g., amantadine, Apomorphine, Bromocriptine, levodopa, Pramipexole, Ropinirole) – dopamine agonists
• other antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Risperidone)
• Aprepitant
• atropine
• azelastine
• "azole" antifungal medications (e.g., fluconazole, ketoconazole)
• barbiturates (e.g., butalbital, pentobarbital Phenobarbital)
• benzodiazepines (e.g., Alprazolam, Diazepam, Lorazepam)
• benztropine
• beta-adrenergic blockers (e.g., Atenolol, Propranolol, Sotalol)
• beta 2-agonists (e.g. formoterol, olodaterol, salbutamol, salmeterol)
• Bosentan
• Bosutinib
• brimonidine
• Buprenorphine
• Buspirone
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• cannabis
• chloral hydrate
• chloroquine
• conivaptan
• Darifenacin
• Deferasirox
• Dexamethasone
• Dextromethorphan
• diabetes medications (e.g., chlorpropamide, glipizide, Glyburide, insulin, Metformin, Rosiglitazone)
• Disopyramide
• diuretics (water pills; e.g., Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, triamterene)
• dofetilide
• Domperidone
• Donepezil
• Dronedarone
• Enzalutamide
• ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergotamine, Dihydroergotamine)
• Famotidine
• Fesoterodine
• Fingolimod
• Flavoxate
• Flecainide
• Galantamine
• general anesthetics (medications used to put people to sleep before surgery)
• Glucagon
• glycopyrrolate
• grapefruit juice
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, darunavir, lopinavir, ritonavir)
• hydroxychloroquine
• Indapamide
• ipratropium
• Ivabradine
• kava kava
• Leuprolide
• lithium
• Loperamide
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Maprotiline
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• Methylphenidate
• Metoclopramide
• Metronidazole
• mifepristone
• Mirabegron
• Mirtazapine
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (M.O.S. e.g., Moclobemide, Rasagiline, Selegiline, Tranylcypromine)
• muscle relaxants (e.g., Baclofen, Cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, orphenadrine)
• Nabilone
• narcotic pain relievers (e.g., Codeine, Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxycodone)
• nefazodone
• Nitroglycerin
• Octreotide
• Olopatadine
• oxybutynin
• pentamidine
• potassium chloride
• Primaquine
• procainamide
• Propafenone
• quinidine
• quinine
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin)
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• Rivastigmine
• Romidepsin
• St. John's wort
• scopolamine
• seizure medications (e.g., Clobazam, Ethosuximide, felbamate, Levetiracetam, phenobarbital, Phenytoin, primidone, Topiramate, Valproic acid, zonisamide)
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• serotonin antagonists (anti-emetic medications; e.g., Granisetron, Ondansetron)
• serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs; e.g., Desvenlafaxine, Duloxetine, Venlafaxine)
• simeprevir
• Solifenacin
• sulfamethoxazole
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• Tapentadol
• Tetrabenazine
• thalidomide
• tiotropium
• Tocilizumab
• Tolterodine
• Tramadol
• Trazodone
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Trimipramine)
• Trimethoprim
• "triptan" migraine medications (e.g., Eletriptan, Sumatriptan)
• Tryptophan
• tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., Dasatinib, imatinib, Nilotinib)
• umeclidinium
• Vardenafil
• Warfarin
• Zolpidem
• Zopiclone

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with Teva Quetiapine. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.