What is seroquil prescribed for...and what are the benefits/side effects?!
Question: Seroquel is in the family of medications known as the atypical antipsychotics. These are medications that block dopamine in the brain, but have less incidence of the neurological side effects common in older antipsychotics. Antipsychotics, as the name suggests, are used to reduce psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations (e.g. hearing voices) and delusions (e.g. paranoia). They were developed primarily to treat schizophrenia. However, research has found that they all can be used to treat mania, which is the "high" period of Bipolar Disorder (formally called Manic Depression).
Seroquel has some other uses as well, such as improving sleep and reducing nervousness. It has also been approved for treating the depressed period of Bipolar Disorder (which makes it unique among the atypical antipsychotics).
Answers: Seroquel is in the family of medications known as the atypical antipsychotics. These are medications that block dopamine in the brain, but have less incidence of the neurological side effects common in older antipsychotics. Antipsychotics, as the name suggests, are used to reduce psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations (e.g. hearing voices) and delusions (e.g. paranoia). They were developed primarily to treat schizophrenia. However, research has found that they all can be used to treat mania, which is the "high" period of Bipolar Disorder (formally called Manic Depression).
Seroquel has some other uses as well, such as improving sleep and reducing nervousness. It has also been approved for treating the depressed period of Bipolar Disorder (which makes it unique among the atypical antipsychotics).