The brand name drug Seroquel is used as an antipsychotic drug to treat schizophrenia and the mania of bipolar disorder, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, Seroquel has been prescribed "off-label" for other mood disorders, like major depression. The main active ingredient of Seroquel is quentiapine fumarate.
Chemical Composition
According to the FDA, "Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) is a psychotropic agent belonging to a chemical class, the dibenzothiazepine derivatives. The chemical designation is 2-[2-(4 dibenzo [b,f] [1,4] thiazepin-11-yl-1-piperazinyl)ethoxy]-ethanol fumarate (2:1)(salt)." The molecular weight of Seroquel in fumarate salt is 883.11, and its molecular formula is C42H50N6O4S2·C4H4O4. According to the FDA, the main active ingredient is the quetiapine fumarate, which is moderately soluble when added to water. The appearance of quetiapine fumarate is a "white to off-white crystalline powder," according to the FDA.
Inactive Ingredients
In addition to the active ingredient, quetiapine fumarate, Seroquel also contains multiple inactive ingredients. According to the FDA, the inactive ingredients that are in Seroquel include titanium dioxide, povidone, dibasic dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, hydroxypropyl methycellulose polyethylene glycol, magnesium stearate and lactose monohydrate. Once all of the ingredients are combined, they are manufactured into tablet form.
Dosage
According to the FDA and Drugs.com, Seroquel is sold in four different dosages. Seroquel 25mg appears as a round tablet that is peach colored; in addition, Seroquel 25mg contains red ferric oxide and yellow ferric oxide. Seroquel 100mg is a round, yellow tablet; Seroquel 100mg contains only yellow ferric acid. The addition of red and yellow ferric oxide in Seroquel 25mg and 100mg does not have an impact of chemical effect of the drug. Seroquel 200mg is a round tablet that is white colored, and Seroquel 300mg is a capsule-shaped tablet that is white, with a film coating the tablet.
