Quetiapine Abuse Fourteen Years Later: Where Are We Now? A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic endowed with weak dopamine antagonist, potent 5-HT_2A-blocking, partial 5-HT_1A-agonist, anti-H₁ histamine, adrenolytic, and sigma₁ receptor agonist activities, since an original 2004 report is increasingly misused. Although some of its pharmacodynamics might explain some motives for voluptuary use, most of its actions are directed at setting-off those motives. Hence, it is possible that its popularity in special populations is due to the fact that the unpleasant or unwanted effects of addiction substances are somehow soothed by quetiapine. Currently, quetiapine is tested in substance use disorders, showing some promise, but it is likely to be misused in certain contexts. Objectives: To review the evidence for the use of quetiapine as addiction substance and investigate the characteristics of populations involved in such addiction. Methods: A systematic review of literature on various databases retrieved on September 7, 2018 87 records to comment. Results. We reviewed the evidence for quetiapine’s addictive potential in the light of its pharmacodynamics properties and presented two cases of recreational quetiapine use, by a 35-year old male patient with past addictive behavior and by a 50-year-old woman with major depressive disorder and conversion disorder. We found quetiapine to be abused mainly by addict populations and people with law involvement. Conclusions/Importance: There is no reason to include quetiapine among regulated substances, but monitoring of its use in selected populations is warranted. Psychiatrists and physicians working in the penitentiary system should be aware of the addictive potential of quetiapine and adopt measures restricting its use.

Keywords:

• Quetiapine
• Non-prescription use
• Dependence
• Off-label use
• Addiction
• Substance Use Disorders

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the Librarians of the School of Medicine and Psychology of Sapienza University, Ms. Mimma Ariano, Ms. Felicia Proietti, Ms. Ales Casciaro, Ms. Teresa Prioreschi, and Ms. Susanna Rospo for rendering precious bibliographical material accessible, as well as our Secretary Lucilla Martinelli for her assistance during the writing of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

In the past three years, P.G. has received research support from Lilly, Janssen, Angelini, and Springer Healthcare, and has participated in Advisory Boards for Lilly, Otsuka, Pfizer, Schering, and Springer Healthcare and received honoraria from Lilly and Springer Healthcare. All other authors of this paper have no relevant conflicts with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.