Introduction
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Quetiapine MABO 200 mg prolonged-release tablets EFG
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
 - If you have any further questions, 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 signs of illness are the same as yours.
 - If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
 
Contents of the pack:
- What Quetiapine MABO prolonged-release tablets are and what they are used for.
 - What you need to know before you take Quetiapine MABO prolonged-release tablets.
 - How to take Quetiapine MABO prolonged-release tablets.
 - Possible side effects.
 - Storage of Quetiapine MABO prolonged-release tablets.
 - Contents of the pack and other information.
 
1. What Quetiapine MABO is and what it is used for
Quetiapine MABO contains a substance called quetiapine. It belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics. Quetiapine MABO can be used to treat several diseases, such as:
- Bipolar depression and major depressive episodes in major depressive disorder: for which you feel sad. You may find that you feel depressed, feel guilty, lack energy, lose your appetite, or cannot sleep.
 - Mania: for which you may feel very excited, euphoric, agitated, enthusiastic, or hyperactive, or show poor judgment, including being aggressive or violent.
 - Schizophrenia: for which you may hear or feel things that are not there, believe things that are not true, or feel abnormally suspicious, anxious, confused, guilty, tense, or depressed.
 
When Quetiapine MABO prolonged-release tablets are used to treat major depressive episodes in major depressive disorder, they will be taken in addition to another medication that is being used to treat this disease.
Your doctor may continue to prescribe Quetiapine MABO even when you are feeling better.
2. What you need to know before you take Quetiapine MABO prolonged-release tablets
Do not take Quetiapine MABO
- If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to the active substance or any of the other ingredients of Quetiapine MABO (listed in section 6).
 - If you are taking any of the following medicines:
 - some medicines for HIV,
 - azole-type medicines (for fungal infections),
 - erythromycin or clarithromycin (for infections),
 - nefazodone (for depression).
 
Do not take Quetiapine MABO if any of the above applies to you. If you are in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Quetiapine MABO.
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Quetiapine MABO, if:
- You, or a family member, have or have had any heart problems, such as heart rhythm problems, heart muscle weakness, or heart inflammation, or if you are taking any medication that may affect your heart rhythm.
 - You have low blood pressure.
 - You have had a stroke, especially if you are elderly.
 - You have liver problems.
 - You have ever had a seizure (convulsion).
 - You have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes. If so, your doctor may monitor your blood sugar levels while you are taking quetiapine.
 - You know that you have had low white blood cell counts in the past (which may or may not have been caused by other medications).
 - You are an elderly person with dementia (loss of brain function). If so, you should not take quetiapine because the group of medicines to which Quetiapine MABO belongs may increase the risk of stroke, or in some cases the risk of death, in these people.
 - You or a family member have a history of blood clots, as medicines like this have been associated with the formation of blood clots.
 
Tell your doctor immediately if, after taking Quetiapine MABO, you experience any of the following:
- A combination of fever, severe muscle stiffness, sweating, or a decrease in level of consciousness (a disorder called "neuroleptic malignant syndrome"). Immediate medical treatment may be necessary.
 
- Fast and irregular heartbeats, even when you are at rest, palpitations, breathing problems, chest pain, or unexplained tiredness. Your doctor should examine your heart and, if necessary, refer you to a cardiologist immediately.
 
- Uncontrolled movements, mainly of your face or tongue.
 - Dizziness or feeling very drowsy. This can increase the risk of accidental injuries (falls) in elderly patients.
 - Seizures (convulsions).
 - A long-lasting and painful erection (priapism).
 - If you have depression or other conditions that are treated with antidepressants. The use of these medications with quetiapine may cause serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition (see "Other medicines and quetiapine").
 
These disorders can be caused by this type of medicine.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you have:
- Fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, or any other infection, as it could be a consequence of a very low white blood cell count and may require interruption of treatment with quetiapine and/or additional treatment.
 - Constipation along with persistent abdominal pain, or constipation that has not responded to treatment, as it could lead to a more severe intestinal blockage.
 
Suicidal thoughts and worsening of your depression
If you are depressed, you may sometimes think about harming yourself or committing suicide. This can increase when you first start treatment, as all these medications take time to work, usually around two weeks but sometimes longer. These thoughts can also increase if you stop taking your medication abruptly. You may be more likely to think this way if you are a young adult. Information from clinical trials has shown an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and/or suicidal behavior in young adults under 25 years of age with depression.
If at any time you think about harming yourself or committing suicide, contact your doctor or go to a hospital immediately. It may help to tell a family member or close friend that you are depressed and ask them to read this leaflet. You can ask them to tell you if they think your depression is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behavior.
Weight gain
Weight gain has been observed in patients taking quetiapine. You and your doctor should monitor your weight regularly.
Children and adolescents
Quetiapine MABO should not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Other medicines and Quetiapine MABO
Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.
Do not take Quetiapine MABO if you are using any of the following medicines:
- Some medicines for HIV.
 - Azole-type medicines (for fungal infections).
 - Erythromycin or clarithromycin (for infections).
 - Nefazodone (for depression).
 
Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:
- Medicines for epilepsy (such as phenytoin or carbamazepine).
 - Medicines for high blood pressure.
 - Barbiturates (for difficulty sleeping).
 - Thioridazine or lithium (other antipsychotic medicines).
 - Medicines that affect your heart rhythm, such as medicines that can cause an imbalance in electrolytes (low potassium or magnesium levels), such as diuretics (medicines to urinate) or certain antibiotics (medicines to treat infections).
 - Medicines that can cause constipation.
 - Antidepressants. These medicines can interact with quetiapine, and you may experience symptoms such as involuntary muscle contractions, including those that control eye movement, agitation, hallucinations, coma, excessive sweating, tremors, increased muscle tone, and body temperature above 38°C (serotonin syndrome). Contact your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
 
Before stopping any of your medicines, consult your doctor first.
Taking Quetiapina MABO with food, drinks, and alcohol
- Quetiapina MABO may be affected by food, and therefore you should take your tablets at least one hour before a meal or before bedtime.
 - Be careful with the amount of alcohol you drink. This is because the combined effect of Quetiapina MABO and alcohol can make you drowsy.
 - Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking Quetiapina MABO. It may affect how the medicine works.
 
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. You should not take Quetiapina MABO during pregnancy, unless your doctor has told you to. You should not use Quetiapina MABO if you are breastfeeding.
The following symptoms, which may represent a withdrawal syndrome, may appear in newborns of mothers who have used quetiapine in the last trimester (last three months of pregnancy): tremors, muscle stiffness and/or weakness, drowsiness, agitation, respiratory problems, and difficulty feeding. If your newborn develops any of these symptoms, you may need to contact your doctor.
Driving and using machines
These medicines can make you feel drowsy. Do not drive or use tools or machines until you know how the tablets affect you.
Effect on urine drug screening tests
If you are having a urine drug screening test, taking quetiapine may produce positive results for methadone or certain antidepressants called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) when some analysis methods are used, even if you are not taking methadone or TCAs. If this happens, a more specific test can be performed.
Quetiapina MABO contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet; this is essentially "sodium-free".
3. How to take Quetiapina MABO prolonged-release tablets
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medicine given by your doctor. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again. Your doctor will decide your initial dose. The maintenance dose (daily dose) will depend on your disease and needs but will usually be between 150 mg and 800 mg.
- You will take your tablets once a day.
 - Do not split, chew, or crush the tablets.
 - Swallow your tablets whole with the help of water.
 - Take the tablets without food (at least one hour before a meal or at bedtime, your doctor will tell you when).
 - Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking Quetiapina MABO. It may affect how the medicine works.
 - Do not stop taking your tablets even if you feel better, unless your doctor tells you to.
 
Liver problems
If you have liver problems, your doctor may change your dose.
Use in elderly patients
If you are an elderly person, your doctor may change your dose.
Use in children and adolescents
Quetiapina MABO should not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
If you take more Quetiapina MABO than you should
If you take more Quetiapina MABO than your doctor has prescribed, you may feel drowsy, dizzy, and experience abnormal heartbeats. Contact your doctor or the nearest hospital immediately. Bring the Quetiapina MABO tablets with you.
You can also call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.
If you forget to take Quetiapina MABO
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten tablet.
If you stop taking Quetiapina MABO
If you stop taking Quetiapina MABO abruptly, you may experience insomnia, or you may feel nauseous, or you may experience headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, or irritability. Your doctor may suggest gradually reducing the dose before stopping treatment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible Adverse Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.
Very Frequent Adverse Effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
- Dizziness (which may lead to falls), headache, dry mouth.
 - Feeling of drowsiness (which may disappear over time, as you continue taking this medicine) (which may lead to falls).
 - Withdrawal symptoms (symptoms that occur when you stop taking the medicine) that include inability to sleep (insomnia), feeling nauseous, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, and irritability. A gradual withdrawal over a period of at least 1 to 2 weeks is recommended.
 - Weight gain.
 - Abnormal muscle movements. These include difficulty starting muscle movements, tremors, feeling of restlessness or muscle stiffness without pain.
 - Changes in the amount of certain fats (triglycerides and total cholesterol).
 
Frequent Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- Fast heartbeat.
 - Feeling like your heart is beating strongly, beating fast, or has skipped beats.
 - Constipation, upset stomach (indigestion).
 - Feeling of weakness.
 - Swelling of arms or legs.
 - Low blood pressure when standing up. This can make you feel dizzy or faint (which may lead to falls).
 - Increased blood sugar levels.
 - Blurred vision.
 - Abnormal dreams and nightmares.
 - Feeling more hungry.
 - Feeling irritated.
 - Disorder of speech and language.
 - Suicidal thoughts and worsening of depression.
 - Shortness of breath.
 - Vomiting (mainly in elderly patients).
 - Fever.
 - Changes in the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood.
 - Decrease in the number of certain types of blood cells.
 - Increases in the amount of liver enzymes measured in the blood.
 - Increased amount of prolactin hormone in the blood. Increases in prolactin hormone could, in rare cases, lead to the following:
 - Both in men and women, having swollen breasts and unexpected milk production.
 - In women, not having menstrual periods or having irregular periods.
 
Infrequent Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- Seizures or convulsions.
 - Allergic reactions that can include hives, skin swelling, and swelling around the mouth.
 - Unpleasant sensations in the legs (also called restless legs syndrome).
 - Difficulty swallowing.
 - Uncontrolled movements, mainly of the face or tongue.
 - Sexual dysfunction.
 - Diabetes.
 - Change in the electrical activity of the heart seen on the ECG (prolongation of the QT interval).
 - Slower heart rate than normal, which can occur at the start of treatment and may be associated with low blood pressure and fainting.
 - Difficulty urinating.
 - Fainting (which may lead to falls).
 - Stuffy nose.
 - Decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood.
 - Decrease in the amount of sodium in the blood.
 
Rare Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- A combination of high temperature (fever), sweating, muscle stiffness, feeling very drowsy or dizzy (a disorder called "neuroleptic malignant syndrome").
 - Yellowish color of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
 - Liver inflammation (hepatitis).
 - Prolonged and painful erection (priapism).
 - Swollen breasts and unexpected milk production (galactorrhea).
 - Menstrual disorder.
 - Blood clots in the veins, especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness in the leg), which can travel through the blood vessels to the lungs, causing chest pain and difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
 - Walking, talking, eating, or other activities while you are asleep.
 - Decreased body temperature (hypothermia).
 - Pancreas inflammation.
 - A condition (called "metabolic syndrome") where you may suffer from a combination of 3 or more of the following effects: increased fat around your abdomen, decreased good cholesterol (HDL-C), increased triglycerides, increased blood pressure, and increased blood sugar.
 - A combination of fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, or any other infection with a very low white blood cell count, a condition called agranulocytosis.
 - Intestinal obstruction.
 - Increased creatine phosphokinase in the blood (a substance found in muscles).
 
Very Rare Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
- Severe rash, blisters, or red spots on the skin.
 - Severe allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis) that can cause difficulty breathing or shock.
 - Rapid swelling of the skin, usually around the eyes, lips, and throat (angioedema).
 - A severe condition of blisters on the skin, mouth, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
 - Inappropriate secretion of a hormone that controls urine volume.
 - Breakdown of muscle fibers and muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis).
 - Worsening of pre-existing diabetes.
 
Unknown Frequency Adverse Effects (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
- Red, irregular skin rashes (erythema multiforme).
 - Sudden and severe allergic reaction with symptoms such as fever and blisters on the skin and skin peeling (toxic epidermal necrolysis).
 - Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Widespread rash, elevated body temperature, elevated liver enzymes, blood abnormalities (eosinophilia), enlarged lymph nodes, and other organs involved (drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, also known as DRESS). If you develop these symptoms, stop using quetiapine and contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention.
 - Heart muscle disorder (cardiomyopathy)
 - Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
 - Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), often with a skin rash with small red or purple spots.
 
- Withdrawal symptoms may occur in newborns of mothers who have used quetiapine during pregnancy.
 
The class of medicines to which Quetiapina MABO belongs may cause heart rhythm problems that can be serious and, in severe cases, potentially fatal.
Some adverse effects are only observed when a blood test is performed. These include changes in the amount of certain fats (triglycerides and total cholesterol) or sugar in the blood, changes in the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood, increased liver enzymes, decreased number of certain types of blood cells, decreased red blood cell count, increased creatine phosphokinase in the blood (a substance found in muscles), decreased sodium in the blood, and increased prolactin hormone in the blood. Increases in prolactin hormone could, in rare cases, lead to the following:
- Both in men and women, having swollen breasts and unexpected milk production.
 - In women, not having menstrual periods or having irregular periods.
 
Your doctor may ask you to have blood tests from time to time.
Adverse Effects in Children and Adolescents
The same adverse effects that can occur in adults can also occur in children and adolescents.
The following adverse effects have been observed more frequently in children and adolescents or have not been observed in adults:
Very Frequent Adverse Effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
- Increased amount of a hormone called prolactin in the blood. Increases in prolactin hormone could, in rare cases, lead to the following:
 - Both in boys and girls, having swollen breasts and unexpected milk production.
 - In girls, not having menstrual periods or having irregular periods.
 
- Increased appetite.
 - Vomiting.
 - Abnormal muscle movements. These include difficulty starting muscle movements, tremors, feeling of restlessness or muscle stiffness without pain.
 - Increased blood pressure.
 
Frequent Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- Feeling of weakness, fainting (which may lead to falls).
 - Stuffy nose.
 - Feeling irritated.
 
Reporting Adverse Effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible adverse effect that is not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es.
By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. Storage of Quetiapina MABO Prolonged-Release Tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Store in the original package to protect it from moisture.
This medicine does not require any special storage temperature.
Do not use this medicine after the expiration date that appears on the package after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packages and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point in the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of packages and medicines you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
6. Package Contents and Additional Information
Composition of Quetiapina MABO
- The active ingredient is quetiapine. Each prolonged-release tablet contains 200 mg of quetiapine (as fumarate).
 - The other ingredients (excipients) are: Core:hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous sodium citrate, magnesium stearate; Coating:titanium dioxide (E-171), hypromellose, macrogol 400, polysorbate 80, yellow iron oxide (E-172), and red iron oxide (E-172).
 
Appearance of Quetiapina MABO Prolonged-Release Tablets and Package Contents
The tablets are yellow, oblong, biconvex, film-coated, and engraved with "Q 200" on one side.
They are presented in aluminum-PVC/PVDC blisters, in packages of 60 tablets.
Marketing Authorization Holder
MABO-FARMA, S.A.
Calle Vía de los Poblados, 3, Edificio 6
28033 Madrid,
Spain.
Manufacturer
Merckle GmbH
Ludwig-Merckle Strasse 3
D-89143 Blaubeuren-Weiler
Germany
or
Teva UK
Brampton Road, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22 9AG
United Kingdom
Date of Last Revision of the Leaflet: June 2024
Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es