Seroquel®

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Seroquel®

A drug developed for the treatment of schizophrenia, Seroquel® (quetiapine fumarate), is an oral medication that was cleared by the FDA in 1997. Seroquel® is manufactured by Zeneca Pharmaceuticals and is a member of a new chemical class called dibenzothiazepine derivatives. Like other new "atypical" antipsychotics, Seroquel® carries a decreased risk of side effects related to loss of motor control, a major problem with older "typical" antipsychotics. Seroquel® is taken orally in pill form, usually two to three times per day.

Extensive clinical trials show that Seroquel® is effective in the treatment of all manner of symptoms of schizophrenia, from delusions to apathy. Seroquel® affects a range of neurotransmitter receptors, including serotonin receptors. Users of Seroquel® have found the drug to be as effective as traditional antipsychotic medications, including Thorazine (chlorpromazine) and Haldol (haloperidol). Until recently, it appeared that Seroquel® was a new miracle drug, effectively controlling symptoms of schizophrenia, while avoiding the side effects that many patients found irritating or embarrassing.

In 2004, four medical societies named Seroquel® as one of six anti-psychotic drugs that promote diabetes, obesity or high cholesterol. In February's issue of the journal, Diabetes Care, the American Diabetes Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists warned that Seroquel® users should be watched carefully to ensure that they are not developing diabetes. Additionally, doctors prescribing Seroquel® should screen patients carefully for a history of obesity and diabetes in the patient and family, as well as the patient's weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Seroquel® manufacturers AstraZeneca have been requested by US regulators to include warnings about the risk of elevated blood sugar and diabetes. The Japanese Seroquel® label includes a prominent warning, specifically stating that there is a link between diabetes and the use of Seroquel®. The United States label, however, does not reflect this known problem, meaning that Seroquel® users and their physicians may be unaware of the need to monitor for signs of diabetes.

If you or a loved one has used Seroquel®, you may wish to seek medical advice regarding the specific risks involved. Users of Seroquel® should not, under any circumstances, decrease or cease their use of Seroquel® without being instructed to do so by a doctor. Seroquel® users who believe they have suffered adverse effects from their use of the medication should contact an attorney who is familiar with the issues surrounding Seroquel® and other antipsychotic medications to investigate potential recovery of funds related to the side effects, including medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages and punitive damage levied against the makers of Seroquel®.

For more information on Seroquel® and your legal rights, please contact us.