Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Sandoz Quetiapine XR
Serious Warnings and Precautions
- Sandoz Quetiapine XR belongs to a group of medicines called atypical antipsychotics. These medicines have been linked to a higher rate of death when used in elderly patients with dementia (loss of memory and other mental abilities)
- Sandoz Quetiapine XR is not to be used if you are elderly and have dementia.
What is Sandoz Quetiapine XR used for?
Sandoz Quetiapine XR (quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets) is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia in adults. Not all people with this disorder have the same symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia may include:
- hallucinations (feeling, hearing, seeing or smelling things that are not there)
- delusions (believing things that are not true)
- paranoia (not trusting others or feeling very suspicious)
- avoiding family members and friends and wanting to be alone
- feeling depressed, anxious, or tense
Sandoz Quetiapine XR is also used to treat adults who suffer from manic or depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a condition with symptoms such as:
- feeling invincible or an all-powerful inflated self-esteem
- having racing thoughts, easily losing train of thought
- overreacting to what you see or hear
- misinterpreting events
- speeding-up your activities, talking vey quickly, too loudly, or more than usual
- needing less sleep
- having poor judgement
- severe irritability
- feeling sad or hopeless
- loss of interest and enjoyment
- feeling tired
Sandoz Quetiapine XR is also used to treat symptoms of depression in adults when taken with your current antidepressant medication. It is prescribed when you do not respond adequately to an antidepressant alone and after you have tried other antidepressant treatments. Some of the common symptoms of depression may include:
- feeling sad or hopeless
- loss of interest and enjoyment
- a change in appetite or weight
- difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- feeling tired
- headaches
- unexplained aches and pain
Sandoz Quetiapine XR is not a cure for your condition but it can help manage your symptoms and help you feel better.
How does Sandoz Quetiapine XR work?
Antipsychotic medications affect the chemicals that allow communication between nerve cells (neurotransmitters). Illnesses that affect the brain may be due to certain chemicals (dopamine and serotonin) in the brain being out of balance. These imbalances may cause some of the symptoms you may be experiencing. Exactly how Sandoz Quetiapine XR works is unknown, however it seems to adjust the balance of these chemicals.
What are the ingredients in Sandoz Quetiapine XR?
Medicinal ingredients: Quetiapine fumarate.
Non-medicinal ingredients: Colloidal silicon dioxide, hydrogenated vegetable oil, lactitol, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, red iron oxide (50 mg tablets only), succinic acid, talc, titanium dioxide and yellow iron oxide (50 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg tablets only).
Sandoz Quetiapine XR comes in the following dosage forms:
Extended Release tablets: 50 mg (capsule shape, peach colour), 150 mg (capsule shape, white colour), 200 mg (capsule shape, yellow colour), 300 mg (capsule shape, pale yellow colour) and 400 mg (capsule shape, white colour).
Do not use Sandoz Quetiapine XR if:
- you are allergic to quetiapine fumarate or any of the ingredients listed in the “nonmedicinal ingredients” section of this leaflet.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take Sandoz Quetiapine XR. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to any medicine that you have taken to treat your condition
are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant.
- are breast-feeding or are planning to breast-feed. You should not breast-feed while taking Sandoz Quetiapine XR.
- drink alcohol or use street drugs
- have a history of alcohol or drug abuse
- have low or high blood pressure
- have had a stroke, or are at risk for a stroke
have or have a family history of:
- heart problems
- any problems with how your heart beats
- heart disease
- have a history of seizures (fits)
- have diabetes or a family history of diabetes, as Sandoz Quetiapine XR may increase your blood sugar levels
- have a history of liver or kidney problems
- know that you have or have had a low white blood cell count in the past
- exercise vigorously or work in hot or sunny places.
have risk factors for developing blood clots such as
- a family history of blood clots
- being over the age of 65
- smoking
- being overweight
- having a recent major surgery (such as hip or knee replacement)
- not being able to move due to air travel or other reasons
- taking oral birth control (“The Pill”).
- suffer or have ever suffered from severe constipation, blocked bowel or any other condition that affects your large bowel.
- have or have had sleep apnea (a sleep disorder where your breathing is interrupted during sleep or are taking medicines that slow down normal activity of the brain (“depressants”) or breathing.
- have or have had a condition where your bladder does not empty or does not empty completely (urinary retention)
- have narrow angle glaucoma or pressure inside your eyes
- are at risk for aspiration pneumonia
Other warnings you should know about:
Self-harm: If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital right away.
You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed or have other mental illnesses. Ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they:
- think your depression or mental illness is getting worse
- are worried about changes in your behaviour
Effects on Newborns: In some cases, babies born to a mother taking quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets during pregnancy have symptoms of withdrawal that are severe and require the newborn to be hospitalized. Sometimes, the symptoms may resolve on their own. Be ready to seek emergency medical help for your newborn if they:
- have trouble breathing
- are overly sleepy
- have muscle stiffness
- or floppy muscles (like a rag doll)
- are shaking
- are having difficulty feeding
Monitoring and Tests: your doctor may do tests before you start your treatment with Sandoz Quetiapine XR and they may monitor you during treatment. These tests may include:
Blood tests to monitor:
- Blood sugar
- Red and white blood cell count
- Amount of platelets
- Liver enzymes
- Lipid levels (a type of fatty substance in your body)
- Creatine phosphokinase levels (a substance in muscles)
- Prolactin levels (a hormone in your body)
- Body weight checks to monitor any weight gain
- Eye examinations to monitor any lens changes in your eyes
Dehydration and Overheating: It is important not to become too hot or dehydrated while you are taking Sandoz Quetiapine XR.
- Do not exercise too much.
- In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible.
- Stay out of the sun.
- Do not wear too much clothing or heavy clothing.
- Drink plenty of water.
Driving and Using Machines: Sandoz Quetiapine XR may make you feel sleepy. Give yourself time after taking Sandoz Quetiapine XR to see how you feel before driving a vehicle or using machinery.
Heart Problems: Cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle) and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) have been reported in some patients. However, it is not known if Sandoz Quetiapine XR treatment is related to these problems.
Sandoz Quetiapine XR can cause serious side effects including:
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) a condition that affects the nervous system.
- Severe skin reactions that can be life-threatening such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP), Erythema Multiforme (EM) and Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS).
- Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) and Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS), disorders that affect your movements
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
See the Serious side effects and what to do about them table below for more information on these and other serious side effects. Talk to a healthcare professional right away if you think you are experiencing any of these serious side effects.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with Sandoz Quetiapine XR:
- Sandoz Quetiapine XR can increase the effects of alcohol
- Medicines used to treat high blood pressure such as diltiazem, verapamil
- Medicines used to treat seizures such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, divalproex.
- Medicines used to treat psychosis such as thioridazine
- Medicines used to treat depression such as nefazodone
- Medicines used to treat infections (antibiotics) such as erythromycin, clarithromycin
- Medicines called “anticholinergics” which cause constipation or may affect your ability to empty your bladder
- Medicines that affect the way your heart beats, these include drugs known to cause electrolyte imbalance called “diuretics” (water pills)
- Ketoconazole, a drug used to treat fungal infections.
- Levodopa, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s and other drugs called “dopamine agonists”.
- Rifampin, a drug used to treat tuberculosis.
- Drugs called “protease inhibitors” used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Effect on Urine Drug Screens: Sandoz Quetiapine XR may cause positive results for methadone or certain drugs for depression called “tricyclic antidepressants” (TCAs), even if you are not taking these drugs. Tell your healthcare professional that you are taking Sandoz Quetiapine XR so more specific tests can be conducted.
How to take Sandoz Quetiapine XR:
- Even if you feel better, do NOT stop taking Sandoz Quetiapine XR or change your dose without talking to your doctor first.
- Try to take Sandoz Quetiapine XR at the same time each day
Sandoz Quetiapine XR can be taken with or without food
- Swallow tablets whole, do NOT split, crush, or chew
Usual dose:
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Mania
The usual dosing schedule is 300 mg on day 1, 600 mg on day 2, and up to 800 mg on day 3 and onwards taken once daily. The maximum dose is 800 mg per day.
Bipolar Depression
The usual dosing schedule is 50 mg on day 1, 100 mg on day 2, 200 mg on day 3 and 300 on day 4 and onwards taken once daily. Your doctor may further increase the dose depending on your response and tolerability. The maximum dose is 600 mg per day.
Major Depressive Disorder
The usual dosing schedule is 50 mg on days 1 and 2 and 150 mg on day 3. Your doctor may adjust the dose upwards or downwards within the recommended dose range of 50 - 300 mg per day during the course of your treatment depending on your response and tolerability.
It takes time to feel better and you should expect some symptoms to improve slowly over the first few weeks of treatment. Do not stop Sandoz Quetiapine XR or change the times of day you take Sandoz Quetiapine XR without talking to your doctor first.
If you stop taking Sandoz Quetiapine XR abruptly you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia (not being able to sleep), nausea and vomiting. Keep your doctor well informed of how you are feeling, both good and bad. By doing this, you and your doctor will be able to make sure that you get the best dose of Sandoz Quetiapine XR for you.
Overdose:
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much Sandoz Quetiapine XR, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
Missed Dose:
Sandoz Quetiapine XR should be taken at the same time each day. If you miss a dose from the previous day, you should take your next regular dose of Sandoz Quetiapine XR the next day at the normal time. Do not take two tablets to make up for a missed dose
What are possible side effects from using Sandoz Quetiapine XR?
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking Sandoz Quetiapine XR. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
- Light headedness or feeling faint
- Dizziness or drowsiness
- Falls
- Headache
- Fever and flu-like symptoms
- sore throat
- nausea or vomiting
- indigestion
- upset stomach or stomach pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Irritability
- Shortness of breath
- Slow or fast heart rate
- Feeling weak
- Swelling of arms and legs
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty swallowing
- Feeling more hungry
- Weight gain
- Trouble sleeping or falling asleep
- Abnormal dreams and nightmares
- Problems with speech or language
If you take more Sandoz Quetiapine XR than you should, a gum-like sticky mass of tablets may form in your stomach. Please contact your doctor immediately as it may require removal.
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| VERY COMMON | |||
| Abnormal muscle movements, including difficulty starting muscle movements, shaking, restlessness or muscle stiffness without pain. | ✓ | ||
| COMMON | |||
| Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar): increased thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, headache, blurred vision and fatigue. | ✓ | ||
| Hypotension (low blood pressure): dizziness, fainting, light-headedness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (may occur when you go from lying or sitting to standing up). | ✓ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help |
|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| New or worsening constipation | ✓ | ||
| UNCOMMON | |||
| Confusion: impaired orientation, reduced attention, impaired memory, abnormal thought process. | ✓ | ||
| Restless Legs Syndrome: unpleasant sensations in the legs. | ✓ | ||
| Seizure (fits): loss of consciousness with uncontrollable shaking. | ✓ | ||
| Tardive Dyskinesia: muscle twitching or unusual/abnormal movement of your face or tongue or other parts of your body. | ✓ | ||
| Urinary Retention: not being able to pass urine. | ✓ | ||
| RARE | |||
| Agranulocytosis (decreased white blood cell counts): infections, fatigue, fever, aches, pains and flu-like symptoms. | ✓ | ||
| Blood clots: swelling, pain and redness in an arm or leg that can be warm to touch. You may develop sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing and heart palpitations. | ✓ | ||
| Hypothermia (low body temperature): shivering, slurred speech or mumbling, slow, shallow breathing, weak pulse, very low energy, confusion or memory loss. | ✓ | ||
| Intestinal blockage or obstruction (blockage that stops or impairs passage of contents of intestines): cramping pain in abdomen that may begin suddenly, bloating, loss of appetite, pain that comes and goes | ✓ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help |
|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| but will then last, nausea and vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. | |||
| Liver Disorder: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine and pale stools, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. | ✓ | ||
| Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): severe muscle stiffness or inflexibility with high fever, rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, state of confusion or reduced consciousness. | ✓ | ||
| Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): upper abdominal pain, fever, rapid heart beat, nausea, vomiting, tenderness when touching the abdomen. | ✓ | ||
| Priapism: Long-lasting (greater than 4 hours in duration) and painful erection of the penis. | ✓ | ||
| Somnambulism (sleep-walking): getting out of bed while not fully awake and doing activities like walking, talking or eating that you do not remember doing the day after. | ✓ | ||
| VERY RARE | |||
| Allergic Reaction: difficulty swallowing or breathing, wheezing, feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up, hives or rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. | ✓ | ||
| Rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of damaged muscle): unexplained muscle pain, muscle tenderness, muscle weakness, red-brown (tea- coloured) urine | ✓ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help |
|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Apnea: stop breathing for short periods during your normal nightly sleep. | ✓ | ||
| NOT KNOWN | |||
| Inflammation of blood vessels (cutaneous vasculitis): skin rash with small red or purple bumps | ✓ | ||
| Severe skin reactions: fever, severe rash, swollen lymph glands, flu-like feeling, blisters and peeling skin that may start in and around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals and spread to other areas of the body, yellow skin or eyes, shortness of breath, dry cough, chest pain or discomfort, feeling thirsty, urinating less often, less urine. | ✓ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
- Store Sandoz Quetiapine XR at room temperature (between 15°C - 30°C).
The expiry date of this medicine is printed on the package label. Do not use the
- medicine after this date.
- If your doctor tells you to stop taking Sandoz Quetiapine XR or you find that it has passed its expiry date, please return any left over medicine to your pharmacist.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about Sandoz Quetiapine XR:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html; the manufacturer’s website www.sandoz.ca, or 1-800-361-3062.