Quetiapine observational studies

Observational studies In 477 patients with schizophrenia (mean age 38 years), who were switched from their medication to quetiapine (mean median dose 575 mg/ day) because of insufficient efficacy (66%) or insufficient tolerability (34%) in a 12-week, multicenter, open-label study supported by AstraZeneca, the marketing authorization holder of quetiapine common adverse events included somnolence (18%), sedation (15%), and dizziness and dry mouth (14% each), and extrapyramidal symptoms (8.0%) [108 ]. There were higher glucose concentrations both at baseline (n = 8) and end-point (n = 12). The mean body weight change was 1.0 kg. 

Observational Studies A naturalistic study of first-episode psychosis outpatients treated with quetiapine reported fatigue, sedation, dizziness, followed by gastrointestinal disorders and nausea and orthostatic hypotension as the most frequent adverse events [203 ]. 

Jeong JH, Bahk WM, Woo YS, Seo HJ, Hong SC, JonDl, etal. Efficacy of quetiapine in patients with bipolar land II depression a multicenter, prospective, open-label, observational study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2013 9 197-204. 

Antipsychotics in a few small studies have been shown to be helpful. To date this research is limited to typical antipsychotics. Nevertheless, the excellent track record of atypical antipsychotics in treating schizophrenia and the lower burden of side effects lead us to recommend atypical antipsychotics as a first-line treatment for STPD as well. Low doses of risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, or aripiprazole are all reasonable options. If no therapeutic effect is observed, doses should be increased. 

Layton D, Harris S, Wilton LV, Shakir SA. Comparison of incidence rates of cerebrovascular accidents and transient ischaemic attacks in observational cohort studies of patients prescribed risperidone, quetiapine or olanzapine in general practice in England including patients with dementia. J Psychopharmacol 2005 19 473-82. 

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