Used as a psychotropic drug to treat schizophrenia, Seroquel and Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate) is used in treatening patients over the age of 13. While it is used in treating also depression and biopolar disorder, the FDA has stated that patients who have used Seroquel are at a much higher risk of death rather than using a placebo. Although the causes of death during trial were varied, most had seemed to be from heart failure, or sudden death.
In September 1997, the FDA had first approved Seroquel for schizophrenia. In 2010, the company’s manufacturers, AstraZeneca had gained over $5.3 billion worth of Seroquel sales. Most physicians use Seroquel in combination with with divalproex or lithium. Health care physicians have speculated that Seroquel blocks domaine receptors(Type 2) and serotonin(Type 2) receptors in the brain. Although according to Seroquel’s label, scientist do not know the actual mechanism of action Seroquel takes.
Seroquel lawsuits have been taken to trial all over the US against the manufacturers, AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca had settled a lawsuit for $520 million in 2010 with the US Department of Justice due to their illegal marketing of Seroquel during off-label uses and failure to warn the serious side effects caused by Seroquel. There were also 27 states in the US in 2011 who settled additional claims against the company for over $68 million. There has been a “black box” issued on Seroquel, being the most extreme type of labeling given by the FDA.
Neroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), is a potentially fatal disorder and its association with antipsychotic drugs, including Seroquel, has been reported.
Some of these NMS symptoms include:
- Altered mental states
- Muscle rigidness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Excessive sweating
- Blood pressure problems
During research done by the FDA, it was found that young people using Seroquel to treat a serious depression disorder, were much more prone to have suicidal thoughts or behaviors than others who took a placebo. It was calculated that for every 1,000 patients younger than 18, Seroquel had been the cause for 14 additional suicidal behaviors and ideas. Within the age groups of 18-24, at least 5 additional cases of suicide thought and behavior using Seroquel were reported.
The FDA had announced in 2011 a Seroquel revision of the label, stating their concern for heart related side effects. In a New York Times post, it was said that seventeen people had reported to the FDA they had been experiencing abnormal heart activity after they had taken more than the recommended dose prescribed of Seroquel. The new label given by the FDA lists to doctors and other health care physicians should avoid prescribing the following drugs when using Seroquel: Procainamide, Amiodarone, Ziprasidone, Quinidine, Thioridazine, Sotalol, Gatifloxacin, Moxifloxacin, Methadone, Chlorpromazine, Levomethadyl Acetate, and Pentamidine.
If you or your loved one is now experiencing side effects after taking the drug Seroquel, you need to turn to a legal advisor today. You may be eligible to obtain compensation for any pain or suffering you may have been caused.
Please call me. I would rather talk to some rather text all of these problems. I will say I was taking sequel for sleep aid and at the same time with Crestor which has caused rhabdomyolisis.
I’m having side affects who do I call am going to va Monday I’ve been throw up muscle spasms altered personality blood pressure I feel like I could fall over dead
It messes with your heart forsure i was on it for almost 3 years
I’m so fed up with how I feel all the time. Sugar spikes…weight gain 40lbs+…tired all the time…and now my teeth are falling out and breaking. (Sleep so soundly mouth is open and always dry)
Will go to MD soon and find out if I have diabetes. I also sweat badly and my heart feels stressed from very little activity. My side effects are getting intolerable.
My son who just turned 25 luckily nearly died from the drug quetiapine fumarate. He was hospitalized with Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura ( TTP ). Google it, it’s documented on the internet..this happened January 30th 2016 in tucson arizona.. he is still in recovery with permanent neurological disabilities from it..
To date, nearly $700,000 in medical expenses for the hospitalization and recovery not even mentioning my loss of wages for the 2 months he was down in bed recovering.
Apparently my son isn’t the only one who suffered from this and need legal represented for damages….
I had been on Seroquel for years to treat what they thought I had was Bipolar. I was misdiagnosed. I can’t even begin to tell you what this medication has done to me. It made me violent. I gained nearly 50 lbs. That isn’t all. Too much to even list. Someone has to do something about this drug.
I Desperately Need Advice due to the fact that 1,000mg of Serequel has taken years from my life. I alwayed had beautiful teeth and they are in Horrible Condition! Weight Gain. Etc. It goes on & on…
I was on 800 mg of seruqel for over a year I now have restless leg syndrome so bad I only sleep minimum hours I will have it forever I was also hospitalized for a mental breakdown lost my job this is a terrible medicine
My son is in extreme trouble from taking Seroquel for more than 10 years he’s now experiencing muscle weakness and can barely walk. He’s also in physical therapy for this. His doctor is sure this is a cause from Seroquel. I’ve decided to take him off this drug for good. Though he’s having some withdrawal but I pray he’ll recover which I doubt.
I have nearly died from Seroquel 6-10 times in my SLEEP.
My tongue would swell and taste buds wouldn’t work.
Now I can’t taste and can’t sleep.
I am so sad help me please.
I have been taking Seroquel for the last 7 or 8 years. I have developed congestive heart failure, I have gain 60 pounds, I am depressed and muscle and my knees make it hard for me to walk. Now I can’t sleep I had a mental breakdown a couple of years ago and lost my job.
My mother took Seroquel for almost 20 years. She had all the signs of NMS. I had no idea about these signs until after she passed away in Aug 2015. I am convinced that this drug caused her death.
I have been on seroquil for several years for sleep, I now have what my Doctor calls “chemically induced diabetes” I have had rapid weight gain, profusely sweating, night terrors, and I attempted suicide, thankfully I survived, my kidneys are affected as well now, kidney’s we’re affected before suicide attempt, please contact me.
I have been prescribed Seroquel for many years. I experienced lip puckering, excessive sweating, excessive gambling, suicidal thoughts, sleep apnia, extreme weight gain (gained apx 100 pounds,) tachycardia, nervous breakdown , and suicide attempt which resulted in bilateral pneumonia. I was hospitalized for a month. Please help me.
Years of Seroquel use and “mandatory” injections. 100 lbs weight gain. Diabetic symptoms. RLS. Brain damage. I developed a hernia in my naval from weight gain & sometimes walk around literally holding my guts in while in need of surgery.