Diabetes Side Effects From Seroquel

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Seroquel in 1997 as an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Known generically as quetiapine fumarate, Seroquel is manufactured and sold by AstraZeneca. More than 80 percent of patients who were given the drug in clinical trials stopped taking it after 18 months due to intolerable side effects, according to a 2009 "Washington Post" article. The drug has many side effects associated with diabetes, including hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis and weight gain.

Hyperglycemia

Seroquel may increase blood glucose levels, especially in diabetics and individuals at risk of diabetes mellitus. In clinical trials, approximately 2.4 percent of treated patients had increased blood glucose levels from normal to high, and 11.7 percent had levels increased from borderline to high, according to AstraZeneca. All patients should be monitored for signs of high blood sugar, known as hyperglycemia, including excessive thirst, known as polydipsia; excessive eating, known as polyphagia; frequent urination, known as polyuria; and weakness. Patients with or at risk for diabetes should have their blood glucose monitored during treatment.

Ketoacidosis

Some patients who take Seroquel also experience a diabetes-associated condition called ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a condition in which the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. The consequence of this metabolism is a buildup of ketones in the blood, which can lead to coma and death. Early symptoms are dry mouth, high ketone levels in the urine, high levels of glucose in the blood, and frequent urination. Severe symptoms are nausea and vomiting, tiredness, shortness of breath, confusion, and a fruity odor to the breath.

Hyperlipidemia

Blood lipid levels, a measure of cholesterol and triglycerides, increased in up to 22 percent of clinical trial participants receiving the drug, according to AstraZeneca. Lipid levels often increase in diabetes, posing a risk factor for coronary artery disease, says the American Diabetes Association. Hyperlipidemia is toxic to beta cells when combined with hyperglycemia. Beta cells are the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. This interaction may be the basis for the pancreatitis seen in some patients based on lawsuits pending against the manufacturer, according to the national law firm, Schmidt and Clark.

Weight Gain

Up to 23 percent of patients receiving Seroquel in clinical trials gained more than 7 percent of their body weight, says AstraZeneca. This shift is equivalent to an average weight gain of 11 lbs. in a year. Higher doses of the drug resulted in greater weight gain. The "Washington Post" notes that some doctors report that up to 45 percent of patients taking the drug experience clinically significant weight gain.