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Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale
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Concerns about quetiapine.

Jonathan Brett1

  • 1Clinical Pharmacology and Addiction Medicine, Drug Health, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.

Australian Prescriber
|December 10, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Quetiapine is approved for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder but is increasingly prescribed off-label for conditions like insomnia. Prescribers need better evidence and alternatives for these unapproved uses, especially for vulnerable patients.

Keywords:
antipsychoticsoff-label prescribingquetiapine

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Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

  • Quetiapine is subsidized for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
  • An extended-release formulation is approved for treatment-resistant depression and generalized anxiety disorder.
  • Off-label quetiapine prescribing is rising for indications like insomnia, often in vulnerable patient groups.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence for off-label quetiapine prescribing.
  • To highlight the risks associated with prescribing for unapproved indications.
  • To suggest alternative treatments for off-label uses.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current prescribing practices.
  • Analysis of evidence supporting off-label indications.
  • Identification of patient populations at risk.

Main Results:

  • Limited evidence supports off-label quetiapine use for insomnia and other conditions.
  • Prescribing often targets vulnerable patients with potential for adverse events.
  • Lack of robust data necessitates caution in off-label prescribing.

Conclusions:

  • More evidence is needed to justify off-label quetiapine prescribing.
  • Alternative therapies, such as psychological treatments, should be considered.
  • Support for prescribers is crucial to guide appropriate treatment decisions.