Is Quetiapine Safe in Overdose?: A Case Report and Literature Review

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication used in the management of affective disorders and schizophrenia, in which suicide attempts are not infrequent. A favorable risk/benefit profile of quetiapine has been reported in the literature, but data on its overdose are only sparsely available. In this article, we present the case of a 25-year-old female patient with bipolar disorder to highlight the safety of quetiapine overdose. She had seven previous impulsive suicide attempts in mixed episodes. She was found unconscious after ingesting 9 grams of quetiapine. Recovery was obtained with supportive treatment. Quetiapine has greater safety in overdose than the traditional antipsychotic agents. With good supportive care, of overdose symptoms typically resolve within 24 hours and none of the side effects are irreversible. Quetiapine is an antipsychotic of choice in patients with risk of medication-based suicidal attempts. (Archives of Neuropsychiatry 2012; 49: 157-159)