Kventiax 25 mg tabletki povlekane

Leaflet accompanying the packaging: patient information

Kventiax 25 mg coated tablets

Kventiax 100 mg coated tablets

Kventiax 200 mg coated tablets

Kventiax 300 mg coated tablets

Quetiapine

You should carefully read the contents of this leaflet before taking the medicine, as it contains important information for the patient.

• You should keep this leaflet, so that you can read it again if you need to.
• If you have any further questions, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If you experience any side effects, including those not listed in this leaflet, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist. See section 4.

Table of contents of the leaflet

• 1. What is Kventiax and what is it used for
• 2. Important information before taking Kventiax
• 3. How to take Kventiax
• 4. Possible side effects
• 5. How to store Kventiax
• 6. Contents of the packaging and other information

1. What is Kventiax and what is it used for

Kventiax contains the active substance quetiapine. It belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics.
Kventiax is used to treat several diseases, such as:

• depressive episodes in bipolar disorder: a condition where the patient feels sad, very depressed, lacks energy, loses appetite, feels guilty or cannot sleep;
• mania: a condition where the patient is very excited, agitated, overactive, full of enthusiasm or overly active or has impaired critical judgment, is aggressive or troublesome;
• schizophrenia: a condition where the patient hears and sees unreal voices and images, takes non-existent things for real, is overly suspicious, worried, confused, feels guilty, is tense or depressed.

Even if the patient feels better, the doctor may recommend continuing treatment with Kventiax.

2. Important information before taking Kventiax

When NOT to take Kventiax

• if the patient is allergic to quetiapine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if the patient is taking any of the following medicines:
• certain medicines used to treat HIV infections,
• azole group medicines (used to treat fungal infections),
• erythromycin or clarithromycin (antibiotics used to treat infections),
• nefazodone (a medicine used to treat depression). In case of doubt, the patient should consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking Kventiax.

Warnings and precautions

Before starting to take Kventiax, the patient should inform the doctor or pharmacist if:

• the patient or a family member has or has had any heart problems, such as arrhythmias, heart muscle weakness, or myocarditis, or if the patient is taking or has taken any medicines that may affect heart function;
• the patient has low blood pressure;
• the patient has had a stroke, especially if the patient is elderly;
• the patient has liver problems;
• the patient has ever had a seizure;
• the patient has diabetes or is at risk of diabetes; in this case, the doctor may check the patient's blood sugar levels during treatment with Kventiax;
• the patient has ever had a low white blood cell count (regardless of whether it was caused by taking other medicines or not);
• the patient is elderly and has dementia (loss of brain function). In these patients, Kventiax should not be used, as medicines in the same group as Kventiax may increase the risk of stroke and, in some cases, death;
• the patient is elderly and suffers from Parkinson's disease/parkinsonism;
• the patient or their family members have had blood clots, as medicines in this group may promote their formation;
• the patient has had or has a condition where they stopped breathing for a short time while sleeping at night (a condition called "sleep apnea") and is taking medicines that weaken normal brain activity (antidepressants);
• the patient has had or has a condition where they could not empty their bladder (urinary retention), has an enlarged prostate, intestinal obstruction, or increased eye pressure. These disorders are often caused by medicines (so-called anticholinergic medicines) that affect the function of nerve cells, administered in the treatment of certain diseases;
• the patient has been addicted to alcohol or drugs in the past;
• the patient has depression or other conditions that are treated with antidepressants. Taking these medicines with Kventiax may lead to the development of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition (see "Kventiax and other medicines").

The patient should immediately inform the doctor if, after taking Kventiax, they experience symptoms such as:

• occurring together: high fever, muscle stiffness, increased sweating, or decreased consciousness (a condition called malignant neuroleptic syndrome). Immediate medical attention may be necessary;
• uncontrolled movements, mainly in the face or tongue muscles;
• dizziness or excessive drowsiness. This may increase the risk of accidental injuries (falls) in elderly patients.
• seizures (epileptic seizures);
• prolonged and painful erections (priapism);
• rapid and irregular heartbeat, even at rest, palpitations, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or unexplained fatigue. The doctor will need to examine the heart and, if necessary, immediately refer the patient to a cardiologist.

All these symptoms may occur during treatment with medicines in this therapeutic group.
The patient should immediately inform the doctor if they experience:

• simultaneously fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, or any other infection, as this may be a consequence of a very low white blood cell count in the blood; in this connection, it may be necessary to discontinue Kventiax and/or administer appropriate treatment;

with this, it may be necessary to discontinue Kventiax and/or administer appropriate treatment;

• constipation along with persistent abdominal pain or persistent constipation despite treatment, as this may lead to a more severe intestinal blockage.

Suicidal thoughts and depression worsening

Patients with depression may sometimes have thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Such symptoms or behavior may worsen at the beginning of treatment, as the medicines usually start to work only after about 2 weeks, and sometimes later. Symptoms may worsen if the patient suddenly stops taking the medicine. The above symptoms are more likely to occur in young adult patients. Clinical trial data show an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and/or suicidal behavior in people under 25 years of age with depression.
The patient should immediately contact their doctor or go to the hospital if they experience thoughts of self-harm or suicidal thoughts. It may be helpful to inform relatives or friends about the depression and ask them to read this leaflet. The patient may ask to be informed when they notice that the depression has worsened or that there are worrying changes in their behavior.

Severe skin reactions (SCAR)

During treatment with this medicine, very rare cases of severe skin reactions (SCAR, Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions) have been reported, which can be life-threatening or fatal. These reactions usually occur as:

• Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a widespread rash with blisters and peeling of the skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), a more severe form causing widespread peeling of the skin
• Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), including flu-like symptoms with a rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and abnormal blood test results (including increased white blood cell count (eosinophilia) and liver enzyme activity)
• Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), small blisters filled with pus
• Erythema multiforme (EM), a skin rash with red, itchy, irregular patches

If such symptoms occur, the patient should discontinue Kventiax and seek medical attention immediately.

Weight gain

Patients taking Kventiax may experience weight gain. The doctor will regularly monitor the patient's weight.

Children and adolescents

Kventiax is not intended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Kventiax and other medicines

The patient should tell their doctor or pharmacist about all medicines they are currently taking or have recently taken, as well as any medicines they plan to take.
Kventiax should not be taken if the patient is taking any of the following medicines:

• certain medicines used to treat HIV infections,
• azole group medicines (used to treat fungal infections),
• erythromycin or clarithromycin (antibiotics used to treat infections),
• nefazodone (a medicine used to treat depression).

The patient should inform their doctor about taking any of the following medicines:

• antiepileptic medicines (such as phenytoin or carbamazepine),
• antihypertensive medicines,
• barbiturates (medicines used to treat sleep disorders),
• thioridazine or lithium (other antipsychotic medicines),
• medicines that affect heart rhythm, such as medicines that may cause electrolyte disturbances (decreased potassium or magnesium levels), such as diuretics (urine-inducing medicines) or certain antibiotics (used to treat infections),
• medicines that may cause constipation,
• medicines (so-called anticholinergic medicines) that affect the function of nerve cells, administered in the treatment of certain diseases,
• antidepressant medicines. These medicines may interact with Kventiax and may cause symptoms such as involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions, including those affecting eye movements, agitation, hallucinations, coma, excessive sweating, tremors, increased reflexes, muscle stiffness, and body temperature above 38°C (serotonin syndrome). If such symptoms occur, the patient should consult their doctor.

The patient should not stop taking other medicines without consulting their doctor.

Taking Kventiax with food, drink, and alcohol

• Kventiax can be taken with or without food.
• The patient should be cautious when drinking alcoholic beverages. Taking Kventiax with alcohol may cause drowsiness.
• The patient should not drink grapefruit juice while taking Kventiax, as it may affect the action of Kventiax.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, thinks they may be pregnant, or plans to have a child, they should consult their doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. Kventiax should not be taken during pregnancy, unless the doctor recommends it. Kventiax should not be taken during breastfeeding.
In newborns whose mothers took Kventiax during the last trimester of pregnancy (the last three months of pregnancy), the following symptoms may occur, which may indicate withdrawal syndrome: tremors, muscle stiffness, and/or muscle weakness, drowsiness, agitation, breathing problems, and feeding difficulties. If such symptoms are observed in the child, the patient should contact their doctor.

Driving and using machines

Kventiax may cause drowsiness. The patient should not drive or operate machines until they are sure how the medicine affects them.

Kventiax contains lactose and sodium

Kventiax contains lactose, a type of sugar. If the patient has been diagnosed with intolerance to some sugars, they should consult their doctor before taking Kventiax.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per tablet, which means it is considered "sodium-free".

Effect on urine tests for drugs

Taking Kventiax may cause false-positive results in some urine tests for methadone or certain tricyclic antidepressants. If this happens, a more specific testing method should be used.

3. How to take Kventiax

This medicine should always be taken as directed by the doctor or pharmacist. If the patient is unsure, they should consult their doctor or pharmacist. The doctor will decide on the initial dose. The maintenance dose (daily dose) of Kventiax depends on the disease and the patient's needs, but it is usually between 150 mg and 800 mg.

• The tablets should be taken once a day before bedtime or twice a day, depending on the disease the patient is suffering from.
• The tablets should be swallowed whole, with a glass of water.
• The medicine can be taken with or without food.
• The patient should not drink grapefruit juice while taking Kventiax. It may affect the action of Kventiax.
• Even if the patient feels better, they should not stop taking Kventiax unless their doctor decides to do so.

Liver function disorders

If the patient has liver problems, the doctor may recommend changing the dose of Kventiax.

Elderly patients

If the patient is elderly, the doctor may recommend changing the dose of Kventiax.

Use in children and adolescents

Kventiax should not be taken by patients under 18 years of age.

Taking a higher dose of Kventiax than recommended

If the patient takes a higher dose of Kventiax than prescribed by their doctor, they may experience drowsiness, dizziness, irregular heartbeat. The patient should immediately consult their doctor or go to the nearest hospital. They should take the packaging of the medicine with them.

Missing a dose of Kventiax

If the patient misses a dose, they should take it as soon as they remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, they should wait and take the medicine at the usual time. The patient should not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.

Stopping Kventiax treatment

If Kventiax is stopped suddenly, the patient may experience difficulty sleeping (insomnia) or nausea, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, or irritability. The doctor may recommend gradually reducing the dose before stopping treatment.
If the patient has any further questions about taking this medicine, they should consult their doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Kventiax can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• Dizziness (which may lead to falls), headache, dry mouth.
• Feeling drowsy (usually subsides over time while taking Kventiax) (may lead to falls).
• Withdrawal symptoms (symptoms that occur after stopping the medicine), including insomnia, nausea, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, and irritability. It is recommended to gradually stop taking the medicine over at least 1-2 weeks.
• Weight gain.
• Abnormal muscle contractions; this may be difficulty starting movement, tremors, restlessness, or muscle stiffness without pain.
• Changes in blood levels of certain fatty substances (triglycerides and total cholesterol).

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• Rapid heartbeat.
• Abnormal heartbeat - feeling of rapid or irregular heartbeat.
• Constipation, stomach upset (indigestion).
• Weakness.
• Swelling of hands or feet.
• Low blood pressure when standing up, which may cause dizziness or fainting (may lead to falls).
• Increased blood glucose levels.
• Blurred vision.
• Abnormal dreams and nightmares.
• Increased appetite.
• Irritability.
• Speech and language disorders.
• Suicidal thoughts and depression worsening.
• Shortness of breath.
• Vomiting (mainly in elderly people).
• Fever.
• Changes in thyroid hormone levels in the blood.
• Decreased levels of certain types of blood cells.
• Increased levels of liver enzymes in the blood.
• Increased levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood; increased prolactin levels may lead to:
• breast swelling in both men and women and unexpected milk production,
• absence or irregular menstrual periods in women.

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• Seizures.
• Allergic reactions, including hives (hives) on the skin, skin swelling, and swelling around the mouth.
• Unpleasant sensations in the legs (also known as restless legs syndrome).
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Uncontrolled movements, mainly in the face or tongue muscles.
• Sexual function disorders.
• Diabetes.
• Changes in the electrical activity of the heart visible on an ECG (QT interval prolongation).
• Slower than normal heart rate, which may occur when starting treatment and may be associated with low blood pressure and fainting.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Fainting (may lead to falls).
• Stuffy nose.
• Decreased red blood cell count.
• Decreased sodium levels in the blood.
• Worsening of existing diabetes.
• Confusion.

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• A combination of symptoms: high fever, excessive sweating, muscle stiffness, or decreased consciousness (a condition called malignant neuroleptic syndrome).
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
• Hepatitis.
• Prolonged and painful erections (priapism).
• Breast swelling and unexpected milk production (galactorrhea).
• Menstrual cycle disorders.
• Blood clots in the veins, especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness of the legs), which can move with the blood to the lungs, causing chest pain and breathing difficulties. If any of these symptoms occur, the patient should immediately contact their doctor.
• Sleepwalking, eating, or performing other activities while sleeping.
• Low body temperature (hypothermia).
• Pancreatitis.
• A condition (known as "metabolic syndrome") in which there is a combination of three or more of the following symptoms: increased abdominal fat, decreased "good" cholesterol (HDL-C), increased triglycerides, high blood pressure, and increased blood sugar levels.
• Simultaneous occurrence of fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, or any other infection with a very low white blood cell count in the blood (a condition known as agranulocytosis).
• Bowel obstruction.
• Increased creatine kinase levels in the blood (a substance derived from muscles).

Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

• Severe skin rash, blisters, or red spots on the skin.
• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic reaction) with symptoms such as difficulty breathing or shock.
• Rapidly developing skin swelling, usually around the eyes and mouth, as well as the throat (angioedema).
• Severe skin disorder with blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). See section 2.
• Abnormal secretion of the hormone that controls the amount of urine excreted.
• Muscle fiber breakdown and muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis).

Unknown: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

• Skin rash with irregular red patches (erythema multiforme). See section 2.
• Sudden appearance of areas of red skin with small pus-filled blisters (acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)). See section 2.
• Severe, sudden allergic reaction with symptoms such as fever and blistering of the skin and peeling (toxic epidermal necrolysis). See section 2.
• Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), including flu-like symptoms with a rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and abnormal blood test results (including increased white blood cell count (eosinophilia) and liver enzyme activity). See section 2.
• Withdrawal symptoms may occur in newborns whose mothers took Kventiax during pregnancy.
• Stroke
• Heart muscle disorders (cardiomyopathy).
• Myocarditis.
• Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels), often with a skin rash with small red or purple spots.

Medicines in the same group as Kventiax may cause heart rhythm disorders, which can have serious consequences and, in severe cases, lead to death.
Some side effects can only be detected by blood tests in a laboratory. These include changes in the levels of certain fatty substances (triglycerides and total cholesterol) or sugar in the blood, changes in thyroid hormone levels in the blood, increased liver enzyme levels in the blood, decreased levels of certain types of blood cells, decreased red blood cell count, increased creatine kinase activity in the blood (a substance derived from muscles), decreased sodium levels in the blood, and increased levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood. Increased prolactin levels may lead to:

• breast swelling in both men and women and unexpected milk production,
• absence or irregular menstrual periods in women.

The doctor may order periodic blood tests.

Additional side effects in children and adolescents

The same side effects as those observed in adults may also occur in children and adolescents.
The following side effects have been observed more frequently or exclusively in children and adolescents:

Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• Increased levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood. This may rarely lead to:
• breast swelling and unexpected milk production in both girls and boys,
• absence or irregular menstrual periods in girls.
• Increased appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Abnormal muscle contractions, including difficulty starting movement, tremors, restlessness, or muscle stiffness without pain.
• Increased blood pressure.

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• Feeling weak, fainting (may lead to falls).
• Stuffy nose.
• Irritability.

Reporting side effects

If the patient experiences any side effects, including those not listed in this leaflet, they should tell their doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Monitoring of Adverse Reactions to Medicinal Products of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products
Al. Jerozolimskie 181C, 02-222 Warsaw
Phone: +48 22 49 21 301
Fax: +48 22 49 21 309
Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder.
Reporting side effects will help gather more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Kventiax

The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children.
Kventiax should not be taken after the expiry date stated on the packaging after the abbreviation "EXP". The expiry date refers to the last day of the specified month.
The batch number is stated on the packaging after the abbreviation "Lot".
There are no special requirements for storage.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. The patient should ask their pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the packaging and other information

What Kventiax contains

• The active substance of Kventiax is quetiapine. Each coated tablet contains 25 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, or 300 mg of quetiapine (in the form of quetiapine hemifumarate).
• The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (type A), magnesium stearate in the tablet core, and hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E 171), macrogol 4000, iron oxide yellow (E 172) (only in 25 mg and 100 mg tablets), and iron oxide red (E 172) (only in 25 mg tablets) in the tablet coating. See section 2 "Kventiax contains lactose and sodium".

What Kventiax looks like and contents of the pack

25 mg: round, light red, coated tablets with beveled edges
100 mg: round, yellow-brown, coated tablets
200 mg: round, white, coated tablets
300 mg: white, capsule-shaped, coated tablets
Packaging: 30, 60, or 90 coated tablets in blisters in a cardboard box

Marketing authorization holder

KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto, Šmarješka cesta 6, 8501 Novo mesto, Slovenia

Manufacturer

KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto, Šmarješka cesta 6, 8501 Novo mesto, Slovenia
KRKA - FARMA d.o.o., V. Holjevca 20/E, 10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia

This medicine is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area and in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) under the following names:

In order to obtain more detailed information on this medicine, the patient should contact the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
KRKA-POLSKA Sp. z o.o.
ul. Równoległa 5
02-235 Warsaw
Phone: 22 57 37 500
Date of last revision of the leaflet:13.04.2025