Sunday, June 10, 2012

Unintended Side Effects and Management of Seroquel Overdose

By Andreas Gratschmeier


Quetiapine is an antipsychotic medicine offered under the name Seroquel. This particular medicine is needed to treat psychiatric disorders that can be used safely and securely whenever the recommended dosage is taken. When an individual overdoses on Seroquel, there may be considerable unintended side effects. The side effects of a seroquel overdose may be life-threatening and should be addressed immediately to avoid irrevocable harm or even loss of life.

Seroquel should typically be prescribed by having an initial dosage of 25 milligrams. Then advances in amounts of 25-50 mg on the 2nd and third day to a target dose range of 300 to 400 milligrams on a daily basis by the 4th day. More dosage adjustments should commonly occur at intervals of no less than two days, as a steady state for Seroquel with the typical patient would not be achieved for roughly 1-2 days.

In medical studies tests were being designed with approximated amounts between 1200 milligrams to 9600 milligrams with no fatalities. In general, reported indications had been exaggerations of the drug's established pharmacological consequences, i.e. sleepiness and sedation, tachycardia as well as hypotension. One case, relating to an estimated overdose of 9600 milligrams, had been linked with hypokalemia and 1st degree coronary heart block. We have seen very rare accounts associated with overdose of Seroquel resulting in death or coma in post-marketing experience.

Unintended side effects of a seroquel overdose may include: Fast heart beat (also referred to as tachycardia), which can increase the probability of stroke or cardiac arrest, disturb the regular function of one's heart and result in sudden cardiac arrest. A person who overdoses on Seroquel can have difficulty staying up and experiencing intense drowsiness. Fainting happens when an individual temporarily loses consciousness. A seroquel overdose may result in dizziness, which represents feelings of weakness, unsteadiness, faintness and wooziness. Fatigue is understood to be an absence of energy or a sense of tiredness in the course of physical exercises.

In the case of serious overdosage create and maintain an airway and assure sufficient oxygenation and ventilation. Stomach lavage and administration of activated charcoal along with a laxative should be considered. The chance of obtundation, seizure or dystonic reaction of the head as well as neck right after an overdose could generate a risk of aspiration with induced vomiting. Cardiovascular monitoring ought to get started promptly and ought to include ongoing electrocardiographic monitoring in order to detect possible arrhythmias.




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