Does Quetiapine Fumarate Pose Any Harm to the Brain?

Quetiapine fumarate tablets are mainly used to treat schizophrenia. Generally, they are not harmful to the brain. However, long-term use may harm the brain, leading to side effects such as sluggish response and inactive thinking.

Quetiapine fumarate is a drug used to treat mental illnesses, primarily schizophrenia. It binds to receptors for neurotransmitters. In the brain, it has a close affinity with 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, which is greater than its affinity with dopamine receptors in the brain. Quetiapine fumarate has an inhibitory effect on the brain, which may cause drowsiness and even seizures. It can also lead to sluggish response, inactive thinking, and other side effects. Long-term use can be harmful to the brain. Therefore, it is important to strictly adhere to the indications for use, and quetiapine fumarate is only recommended for patients with schizophrenia.

The side effects of quetiapine fumarate tablets are generally not severe. Common side effects include dry mouth, tachycardia, constipation, dizziness or fainting, abnormal liver function, weight gain, drowsiness, akathisia, insomnia, excitement or agitation, blurred vision, hypotension, muscle tension, tremor, decreased activity, fatigue, headache, nasal congestion, and skin symptoms (listed in descending order of frequency in clinical studies). According to foreign literature reports, dose-dependent adverse reactions associated with quetiapine fumarate include indigestion, abdominal pain, and weight gain. Laboratory tests have found asymptomatic elevations of ALT to be associated with the use of quetiapine. In clinical trials comparing quetiapine fumarate with placebo, the following adverse events were observed, although they occurred during treatment with quetiapine fumarate, they may not necessarily be caused by the drug.

Common adverse reactions include dizziness, drowsiness, orthostatic hypotension, palpitations, dry mouth, loss of appetite, and constipation. It can also cause weight gain, abdominal pain, asymptomatic elevations of ALP, and increases in total cholesterol and triglycerides. Extrapyramidal adverse reactions are rare. Occasionally, it can cause excitement and insomnia.