Published: 8 December 2016

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Quetiapine – Not Without Side Effects

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Prescriber Update 37(4): 61
December 2016

Key Messages

  • Use of quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic, has been increasing in recent years.
  • Potentially serious adverse reactions are associated with quetiapine and other atypical antipsychotics.


Quetiapine is indicated in adults for the treatment of acute and chronic psychoses including schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder1. In recent years, use of quetiapine in the primary care has been gradually increasing, and there is also an awareness of potential quetiapine misuse internationally and in New Zealand.

All atypical antipsychotics may cause potentially serious side effects, such as1:

  • metabolic changes (eg, weight gain, hyperglycaemia)
  • mood or behaviour changes (eg, anxiety, irritability, in extreme cases suicidal thoughts and self-harm)
  • movement disorders (eg, tardive dyskinesia)
  • cardiovascular effects (eg, QT interval prolongation)
  • hepatic changes (eg, increased liver enzymes, hepatitis)
  • haematological changes (eg, neutropenia, agranulocytosis)

See quetiapine data sheets for further information (www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/infoSearch.asp).

From 1 January 2011 to 30 September 2016, the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM) has received 47 adverse reaction reports associated with quetiapine use. Please continue to report any adverse reactions to CARM. Reports can be submitted on paper or electronically (https://nzphvc.otago.ac.nz/).

References
  1. AstraZeneca Limited. 2015. Seroquel Data Sheet 16 November 2015 URL: www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/s/seroqueltab.pdf (accessed 17 October 2016).
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