Whats the difft betwwen serquil and lithem?

Question

they say that there brother and sister??

Answer 1

Lithium and Seroquil are similar drugs, but with big differences.

What they treat is similar and how, but lithium does more, is more dangerous, and effects more of the basic body functions.

Lithium:

“Lithium interferes with the production and uptake of chemical messengers by which nerves communicate with each other (neurotransmitters). Lithium also affects the concentrations of tryptophan and serotonin in the brain. In addition, lithium increases the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow. Lithium's effects usually begin within 1 week of starting treatment, and the full effect is seen by 2 to 3 weeks.”

Lithium has more side effects though, it is more dangerous and it has more hostile interactions with drugs than Seroquil has.

Seroquil (generic quetiapine):

“an oral antipsychotic drug used for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Although the mechanism of action of quetiapine is unknown, like other anti-psychotics, it inhibits communication between nerves of the brain. It does this by blocking receptors on the nerves for several neurotransmitters, the chemicals that nerves use to communicate with each other. It is thought that its beneficial effect is due to blocking of the dopamine type 2 (D2) and serotonin type 2 (5-HT2) receptors.

Seroquil is a serotonin uptake inhibitor; leaving more of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the nerve synapses.

Lithium on the other hand affects the body’s level of sodium, serotonin, and tryptophan giving it a broader range of effects throughout the body.

Seroquil is used for the treatment of schizophrenia as well as for the treatment of acute manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, while Lithium is used medically as a mood stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of bipolar disorder, where they have a role in the treatment of depression and particularly of mania.  Lithium treats more, affects more things in the body and is more of a risk.  Seroquil is specialized and safer.  It is also a synthetic drug while Lithium can be obtained from more natural sources; that doesn’t make it better only different.

Finally, doctors are more reluctant to prescribe lithium than Seroquil and patients are more likely to object to it and stop taking it because of lithium’s wide range of side effects.  There is also a more narrow room for error and over dosing with lithium.  Seroquil is the safer medication, but only your doctor can tell you what is best for you and your condition.