Dopaquel and what it does to your brain?

Dopaquel is an international brand name for Quetiapine, which is a class of medications called atypical antipsychotics. It is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Quetiapine works in the brain, where it affects various neurotransmitters, in particular serotonin and dopamine. Quetiapine works by BLOCKING the receptors in the brain that dopamine acts on. This prevents the excessive activity of dopamine and helps control symptoms of schizophrenia and manic depression.

For major depression, this drug is used as an add-on treatment for people already taking an antidepressant drug. A doctor normally prescribes this medication when he/she feels the antidepressant alone is not enough to treat your depression.

Quetiapine comes in two forms, either in an immediate-release oral tablet or in an extended-release oral tablet. The immediate-release version is released into the blood stream right away, whereas the extended-release version is slowly released into the bloodstream over time.

Both forms of quetiapine tablets are used to treat schizophrenia or bipolar, however the extended-release tablet is commonly used to treat major depression in combination with an antidepressant.

High doses or long-term use can cause serious movement disorder that may not be reversible. Symptoms of this disorder include tremors or other uncontrollable muscle movements.

During the first few months of treatment, quetiapine may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults. People at higher risk include those with depression or bipolar illness, or who have already experienced suicidal thoughts or actions. Patients who are treated with this drug and any other antidepressants treatment are normally monitored to ensure no new or worsening suicidal thoughts or behaviors take place.

If you miss your dose of Dopaquel, it is important to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose.

A lot of people think that once they feel better they can stop their Dopaquel or antidepressants but, this is a major problem. Firstly the sudden stop of the medication causes withdrawal symptoms which include nausea, vomiting and sleep problems. Furthermore the individual is likely to relapse in the sense of reverting back to a depressed or suicidal state of mind.

Often people who have stopped their drugs land back in a psychiatric hospital/clinic to start the process all over again, which firstly is costly and can be stressful on family members.

So please remember that it’s important to consult you doctor/psychiatrist before just stopping your medication. If for some reason you are given permission to stop your medication, you will most likely be weaned off the drugs over a period of time.

Remember you have been placed on your medication for a reason, so suck it up, throw them down the hatch (your mouth) and enjoy the road to happiness.