Side effects - Quetiapine and sudden death???

[el burgo]

SWIM read somewhere that a rare side effect of Quetiapine can result in sudden death. Is this the case?
SWIM is on 100mg a day and is concerned about the potential adverse effects.

Any SWIMMERS with an answer to SWIMS concerns?

[yaba]

One easy way to find out, try one !!!

Think the pharmaceutical company's are covering there backs and listing all possible side effects. And it could be true that people have died who were on it, who would have died anyway.

Have to say I wouldn't be happy to take a pill with death as a possible side effect, even if it is rare. Could always go back to the Doctor and get him/her convince you that its so rare it wouldn't happen to you, it will only happen to people who are sick, taking illegal drugs, etc.

Think its like winning the lotto.. It will happen to someone but never you !

[staples]

Sudden death is not a side effect specific to quetiapine, and when it is listed as a side effect, it is because the medication has been causally linked to sudden death under specific circumstances.

Quetiapine's prescribing information lists sudden death as a possible side effect for elderly patients with dementia, stressing that quetiapine is not approved for treating dementia-related psychosis so if any doctor prescribes quetiapine to treat dementia-related psychosis, there was a misunderstanding and/or the doctor made a serious mistake.

I know that amphetamine-based medications like Adderall (mixed amphetamine salt) and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) typically list "sudden death" as a potential side effect when there are misused and/or taken by patients with cardiac abnormalities, which makes sense as they may stress the cardiovascular system.

Edit: An example of a medication which should scare the crap out of you if a doctor suggests taking it is the acne medication Accutane (isotretinoin). If the information on Accutane that is now available were available when the FDA was considering the new drug application, it would have never been approved. Accutane's potential to actually cure acne forever in some people is probably why it wasn't taken off the market, however the FDA has placed extra regulations on it, requiring a special consultation where the patient signs a consent form that explains all of the horrible potential side effects, including death resulting from permanent damage to various internal organs, death from severely increased inter-cranial pressure, and permanent damage to muscles, bones, and ligaments.

So I don't think you need to worry too much about your medication if you do not match the conditions listed on the prescribing information for sudden death, and if you don't have to sign a consent form to be prescribed

Reputation Comments on this post:

	well explained
	Fantastic Information

[el burgo]

SWIM smokes pot, drinks heavily and takes the odd bump of coke

el burgo added 0 Minutes and 32 Seconds later...

and is on prozac/temazepam or zolpidem

Reputation Comments on this post:

What does this have to do with the OP?

[MisterV]

Sudden death can occure with many meds we use daily or often such as aspirin.
The substances SWIY consumes are often prescribed in combination ( not the illegal ones and the alcohol), so there is no real danger of a sudden death SWIY fears from that combination.

[Amnesia]

The idea of anti-psychotic related 'sudden deaths' are due to the cases of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac deaths by patients taking Sertindole, which has been suspended from use.
Despite this, atypical antipsychotics can (rarely) prolong the QT interval and should not be use in conjunction with any other medications/drugs known to prolong the QT, or by people with a history of cardiovascular disease.


The effective dosage range for Quetiapine is usually between 200-750 mg per day. SWIY is on quite a low does which, if necessary, will (should) be increased gradually in an attempt to minimize side effects. With most medications, side effects are often dose related and a gradual increase allows the body to become acclimatised to the meds, thus lowering the risk of adverse effects.


The side effects listed in the BNF are:
Dizziness; Drowsiness; Dyspepsia; Constipation; Dry mouth; Mild asthenia; Rhinitis; Hypertension; Tachycardia; Anxiety; Fever; Myalgia; Ear pain; Rash; Leucopenia; Neutropenia; Eosinophilia; Elevated plasma-triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations; Reduced plasma-thyroid hormone concentrations; Possible, but rare, QT interval prolongation; Oedema (rare); Priapism (very rare); Dystonia and Dyskinesia (unusual face and body movements - occur in children-early teens within first few days of treatment)

Long term use can lead to tardive dyskinesia (characterised by rhythmic involuntary movements of the tongue, jaw and face) which can be irreversible; Parkinsonian symtoms (including tremors - more common in the elderly); and an extremely rare but serious condition known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome.


Hope this helps and isn't far too much information.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	There's never "far too much information"!
	This is a plethora of information on quetapine