Constipation quetiapine

Placebo-coutroHed studies Quetiapine has been compared with placebo in the avoidance of relapses in patients in remission in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial [119 ]. Patients who had taken antipsychotic drugs for at least 1 year for first episode of psychosis took either maintenance quetiapine 400mg/day ( =89) or placebo (n = 89) and were followed for 12 months or until a relapse occurred. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the risk of relapse at 12 months was 41% with quetiapine (95% CI=29%, 53%) and 79% (95% CI=68%, 90%) with placebo. The rate of withdrawal because of adverse or serious adverse events was greater with quetiapine (18% versus 8%) patients taking quetiapine reported more adverse reactions sleepiness or sedation, reduced salvation, and constipation). 

Comparative studies Quetiapine and lithium In a 4-week, multicenter, double-blind study, Chinese patients with bipolar mania were randomized to quetiapine (mean dose, 648 mg/day mean age, 33 years n = 11) or lithium (mean serum concentration 0.80 mmol/1 mean age 34 years n = 11) [113 ]. The proportion of patients with at least one adverse event during the study was higher with quetiapine (78%) than lithium (69%). The most common (>5%) adverse events with quetiapine were constipation (35%), dizziness (15%), diarrhea (10%), increased alanine aminotransferase (9.0%), bouts of palpitation (9.0%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (7.7%), pharyngolaryngeal pain (6.4%), upper respiratory tract infections (6.4%), and dry mouth... 

A study of 30 mood disorder patients switched from quetiapine IR to XR reported the switch was tolerated by most patients with discontinuation in only two patients [204 ]. Early side effects included early/central insomnia wi day drowsiness (16.7%), increased appetite and weight (8.4%), mild asthenia (4.2%) and constipation (4.2%). A series of studies were conducted to characterise the pharmacokinetics of quetiapine ER which was foxmd to be generally well tolerated with a safety profile comparable to quetiapine IR, though with less initial sedation [205 ]. 

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