Quetiapine fumarate

Quetiapine fumarate is an atypical antipsychotic medication used primarily to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. It is marketed under the brand name Seroquel among others.

Pharmacology

Quetiapine fumarate is a dibenzothiazepine derivative with antipsychotic properties. It acts primarily by antagonizing serotonin and dopamine receptors. Specifically, it is a serotonin-dopamine antagonist (SDA) that exhibits high affinity for the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor and the dopamine D2 receptor, among others.

Medical Uses

Quetiapine fumarate is used to treat a number of psychiatric conditions, including:

• Schizophrenia: Quetiapine is effective in reducing the positive symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions) and negative symptoms (such as social withdrawal and lack of motivation) of schizophrenia.
• Bipolar disorder: It is used in the treatment of both manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, and can also be used for maintenance therapy.
• Major depressive disorder: Quetiapine is used as an add-on treatment for major depressive disorder when other treatments are not effective.

Side Effects

Common side effects of quetiapine fumarate include drowsiness, dizziness, and dry mouth. More serious side effects may include weight gain, diabetes, and an increased risk of developing tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder.

Precautions

Quetiapine fumarate should be used with caution in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or seizures. It should not be used in patients with known hypersensitivity to quetiapine or any of the ingredients in the formulation.

See Also

• Atypical antipsychotic
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Major depressive disorder