What Is Quetiapine XR Used For?

Quetiapine XR is used for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in adults. Although quetiapine XR is not a cure for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, it can help to control symptoms of the conditions. Occasionally, a healthcare provider may prescribe quetiapine XR "off-label" to treat other conditions, such as behavior problems in elderly people with dementia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Quetiapine XR Drug Information

An Overview of Quetiapine XR Uses

Quetiapine XR (Seroquel XR^®) is a prescription medicine known as an "atypical antipsychotic" that has been licensed to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It is a long-acting medication that is taken just once a day.

Quetiapine XR and Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a serious brain disease that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. Currently, it is thought that bipolar disorder may be at least partially genetic (see Bipolar Causes).

Bipolar disorder is different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through -- the symptoms of bipolar disorder are more severe. Episodes of mania and depression typically recur throughout the affected person's lifespan. Between episodes, most people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms (see Bipolar Disorder Symptoms).

Effective bipolar disorder treatment usually involves a combination of psychotherapy (see Bipolar Psychosocial Treatments) and bipolar medications. quetiapine XR is approved for the following uses for bipolar disorder treatment:

Treating acute depressive episodes
Treating acute mixed or manic episodes, used either alone or in combination with lithium (Eskalith^®, Lithobid^®) or divalproex (Depakote^®, Depakote ER^®)
Providing maintenance treatment (to prevent symptoms from returning) when used in combination with lithium or divalproex.

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