Description
Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent which interacts with a broad range of neurotransmitter receptors. Quetiapine exhibits a higher affinity for serotonin (5HT2) receptors in the brain than it does for dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in the brain. Quetiapine also has high affinity at histaminergic and adrenergic-1 receptors, with a lower affinity at adrenergic-2 receptors, but no appreciable affinity at cholinergic muscarinic or benzodiazepine receptors. Quetiapine is active in tests for antipsychotic activity, such as conditioned avoidance.
Indications
Quetiapine is indicated for the treatment of Acute and chronic psychoses, including schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder including: treatment of manic episodes satisfying DSM-IV criteria for mania associated with bipolar disorder, treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder, maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder, in combination with a mood stabilizer, for the prevention of recurrence of manic, depressive or mixed episodes.
Interaction
Caution should be exercised when Quetiapine is used concomitantly with medicines known to cause electrolyte imbalance or to increase QT interval. Co-administration of Quetiapine and thioridazine or carbamazepine caused increases in the clearance of Quetiapine. Co-administration of Quetiapine with another microsomal enzyme inducer, phenytoin, also caused increases in the clearance of Quetiapine.
Quetiapine is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to it.
The most commonly reported Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) with Quetiapine are somnolence, dizziness, dry mouth, withdrawal (discontinuation) symptoms, elevations in serum triglyceride levels, elevations in total cholesterol (predominantly LDL cholesterol), decreases in HDL cholesterol, weight gain, decreased haemoglobin and extrapyramidal symptoms.
The safety and efficacy of Quetiapine during human pregnancy have not been established. Therefore, Quetiapine should only be used during pregnancy if the benefits justify the potential risks and the administered dose and duration of treatment should be as low and as short as possible. The degree to which Quetiapine is excreted into human milk is unknown. Women who are breast-feeding should therefore be advised to avoid breast-feeding while taking Quetiapine.
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