Seroquel (quetiapine) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat schizophrenia and certain types of bipolar disorder. Seroquel may not be safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Keep reading to learn more about Seroquel and reproductive health. And for a detailed overview of this drug, check out this article.

Note: This article focuses on Seroquel. An extended-release form of the drug called Seroquel XR is also available.

If you can become pregnant, it’s important to consider whether Seroquel is a safe option for you.

It’s not known whether Seroquel is safe to take while pregnant. Seroquel may cause side effects in children who were exposed to the drug as fetuses during the third trimester of pregnancy. (The third trimester refers to weeks 29 to 40 of pregnancy.) These include extrapyramidal symptoms, which can include:

  • tremor
  • uncontrollable movements
  • muscle contractions

Taking Seroquel in the third trimester of pregnancy can also cause withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Examples of these symptoms include excessive sleepiness, tremor, and difficulty breathing or feeding.

Pregnancy registry

If you become pregnant while taking Seroquel, tell your doctor right away. They’ll give you more information about the possible risks and benefits of continuing to take Seroquel during pregnancy.

If you take Seroquel during pregnancy, consider enrolling in the National Pregnancy Registry for Psychiatric Medications. You can sign up or learn more on the website or by calling 866-961-2388.

Seroquel and fertility

Taking Seroquel may reduce fertility in females.* (Fertility is the biological ability to reproduce.) This is because Seroquel can increase the levels of a hormone called prolactin. And high prolactin levels may affect or prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary).

The manufacturer of Seroquel hasn’t reported any specific fertility problems that have occurred in males.* However, high prolactin levels due to the drug may lead to erectile dysfunction in males.

Keep in mind that these effects in females and males are not permanent. If you and your doctor decide that you will stop taking Seroquel, your fertility should return to where it was before you started the treatment.

If you have more questions about how Seroquel may affect your fertility, talk with your doctor.

* In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to understand the effects that Seroquel could have on you or the child who is breastfed.

It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Seroquel while breastfeeding. Seroquel passes into breast milk, but it’s unknown whether this could cause harm to a child who is breastfed or the effect it has on milk production.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before taking Seroquel.

It’s not known whether Seroquel is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re taking Seroquel.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.