Acute Quetiapine Overdose in Adults: A 5-Year Retrospective Case Series

Study objective

To describe clinical effects and outcome after acute quetiapine overdose in adults and compare these with overdose by all other antipsychotic drugs as a group.

Methods

We performed a 5-year (2002 to 2006) retrospective case series by chart review of the California Poison Control System database for adult patients with acute ingestion of quetiapine. Patients with coingestants were excluded. Symptoms, signs, and medical outcomes were extracted from the database and also by direct chart review for some variables (QRS- and QT-interval prolongation, torsades de pointes).

Results

We found 945 cases meeting criteria for analysis. Intentional ingestions accounted for 87% of cases. Patient ages ranged from 18 to 84 years, with a median of 35 years. There were 3 deaths, all of whom had coma, tachycardia, and respiratory depression requiring ventilatory support. Clinical manifestations included drowsiness (76%), coma (10%), seizures (2%), tachycardia (56%), hypotension (18%), and respiratory depression (5%). There were insufficient data to determine the incidence of QRS or QT prolongation in our study group, but only 2 patients were reported to have ventricular tachycardia and neither was described as having torsades de pointes. Compared with overdose by all other antipsychotic agents as a group, quetiapine was more likely to cause hypotension (odds ratio [OR] 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52 to 2.76), coma (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.46 to 3.20), and respiratory depression (OR 2.49; 95% CI 1.40 to 4.41); require tracheal intubation (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.41 to 2.61); and result in death or a major medical outcome (OR 2.62; 95% CI 1.78 to 3.85).

Conclusion

Consequences of acute quetiapine overdose included coma, respiratory depression, and hypotension, and these complications were more common compared with overdose by all other antipsychotic agents as a group.