This article discusses a unique drug of a new generation for the treatment of psychosis and schizophrenia - the drug "Seroquel". Instructions for its use confirm the important role that it can play in the coming years in modern psychiatry and pharmacology. The first ten years of the use of seroquel in clinical practice show that it not only has an unprecedentedly strong therapeutic effect. The medicine significantly reduces, up to a complete exclusion, the strongest side effects characteristic of similar drugs of the older generation.
Seroquel varies over a wide range of dosages. This gives the doctor the possibility of flexible individual selection of doses. During inpatient treatment, a picture of positive changes is observed in 60% of patients already in the fourth week.
Schizophrenia and psychosis are the most serious mental illnesses that cannot be completely cured.
This group of diseases requires lifelong treatment. The drugs used in this practice are called typical antipsychotics (TH) or typical antipsychotics (TA). The main TA group consists of haloperidol and chlorpromazine, which have been βin serviceβ with psychiatry for many decades.
Seroquel, the instruction to which is the basis of this material, is called an atypical antipsychotic (AA) or atypical antipsychotic (AN). Both groups of drugs - TA and AA - when used correctly under the supervision of a doctor, affect the reverse development of schizophrenia and psychosis, creating a temporary improvement (remission). It is possible to reduce hallucinations (realistic images of reality, which actually does not exist), mitigate manic symptoms (overexcitation with risky and rash acts), decrease or even stop psychomotor agitation (motor anxiety, which is often dangerous for the patient and those around him).
The problem of TN lies in the destructive power of their side effects. They cause a number of disorders that are no less painful for the mentally ill than the underlying disease. Among these disorders, at least four are life threatening:
- sharply and unpredictably falling or rising blood pressure;
- the body loses its ability to control temperature, sudden overheating or hypothermia is possible;
- bone marrow is inhibited, blood formation processes are disturbed;
- malignant neuroleptic syndrome manifests itself (temperature above 40 degrees; muscles tighten; breathing quickens; sweat separates; urinary incontinence occurs; impaired consciousness reaching coma and loss of connection with the outside world; motor and speech disorders are frequent. Fatal outcome is possible. Unknown origin , treatment not developed).
If seroquel is taken, the instruction reports that there is no data on these complications.
The most burdensome for the patient are the symptoms of extrapyramidal disorders, which include various forms of body trembling (tremor), inability to maintain balance, falling when walking, involuntary ugly movements of the face and body (dystonia), promiscuous activity of the limbs. Restlessness (akathisia) is characteristic. Late dyskinesia is practically incurable : an involuntarily protruding tongue licking lips, sucking and chewing movements, a curved, spontaneously opening mouth, grimacing, twitching of the eyelids. Panic and fear cause the patient spasms of the larynx and pharynx, during which speech is disturbed and swallowing is paralyzed.
Side effects when taking TA are so difficult to tolerate that patients tend to commit suicide, avoid taking medications, which contributes to relapse of the disease.
Seroquel does not have side effects that are characteristic of TA.
With regard to tardive dyskinesia, this statement is somewhat premature. To confirm or refute it, at least 15 years must pass from the time the drug enters clinical practice (this material is written on the verge of this period). However, cautious prognoses and first conclusions give the hope that the seroquel does not cause tardive dyskinesia either.
Like the seroquel itself, its analogues are designed to solve the tasks of the 21st century: a combination of a stronger therapeutic effect than that of TA and the absence of side effects characteristic of TA. The cost of research and development and implementation of such drugs is very high. Therefore, the drugs themselves are also not cheap. Consumers who decide to receive seroquel treatment may experience financial problems that prevent them from acquiring it in sufficient quantities and on time. Patients are looking for cheaper analogues. In this regard, you must know the following.
- There are no analogues of the seroquel, which would be recognized by its main producer - the company Astra Zeneka (England);
- All commercially available medicines, which local pharmacists say are βthe analogue of a seroquel,β are not.
This means that patients who need to be treated with this Seroquel from the main manufacturer must have financial support from the state (as is the case in a number of countries - for example, in Israel and the USA in relation to people with disabilities) or from private sources.
On the other hand, there are three more atypical antipsychotics that, according to their therapeutic effects, approach Seroquel, but have a lower price. These are Risperidone, (Risperdal), Ziprasidone (Zeldox) and Olanzapine (Ziprex).
- Risperidone significantly loses to seroquel in that it does not relieve the patient of extrapyramidal disorders, although it even surpasses Seroquel in its therapeutic effect.
- Ziprasidone can cause insomnia, impaired cardiac activity and akathisia (restlessness and inability to be at rest).
- Olanzapine contributes to significant weight gain. According to preliminary data, it can lead to a deterioration in diabetes.
The seroquel does not have any of these shortcomings.
So, in comparison with TA and some AAs, the lead is the seroquel, the analogues of which, if they were, would also not create severe side effects. On the other hand, when using the Seroquel trademark itself, side effects (less severe) still exist. These include:
- drowsiness
- dizziness;
- constipation (rarely);
- a feeling of dry mouth;
- darkening in the eyes and loss of balance with a sharp change in posture from horizontal to vertical position;
- a change in the analysis of hepatic enzymes (rarely).
The listed conditions go away shortly after the start of taking the seroquel. If this does not happen, then the abolition of the drug eliminates them. It is important to add: during clinical trials, they were recorded extremely rarely.
Consider more official information about the drug "Seroquel." The instruction allows you to do this with the greatest accuracy.
You can not take this medicine if you are hypersensitive to it; with previous epileptic seizures. Seroquel is strictly forbidden during pregnancy and during breastfeeding; with low blood pressure.
Seroquel is taken orally, washed down with water. Reception does not depend on food. The dose is divided into two phases: in the morning (after sleep) and at night (before bedtime).
We intentionally do not give a dosage. As always, self-medication is dangerous. Doses should be carefully selected with constant monitoring by a psychiatrist.
Seroquel is stored for 3 years at a temperature not exceeding 30Λ