Rapid dose initiation of quetiapine for the treatment of acute schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: a randomised, multicentre, parallel-group, open study

✍ Scribed by Giuseppina Boidi; Maurizio Ferro

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 115 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.844

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Objective

Rapid resolution of symptoms is a priority for clinicians treating acute psychosis, and rapid initiation of pharmacotherapy may prove beneficial. This study examined rapid dose initiation of quetiapine in acutely ill patients.

Methods

A 2‐week, multicentre, randomised, parallel‐group, open study. Inpatients (n = 269) diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder received rapid (n = 139) or conventional (n = 130) initiation of quetiapine, followed by flexible dosing (maximum 800 mg/day). Primary outcome included proportion of patients experiencing ≥1 episode of selected AEs (somnolence, dizziness, orthostatic hypotension) during Week 1. Secondary outcomes included discontinuations due to AEs, and efficacy assessed by BPRS and CGI‐S scores.

Results

The proportion of patients with ≥1 selected AE during Week 1 was 5.4% and 10.1% in the conventional and rapid initiation groups, respectively. Most common AEs (>5% patients) were hypotension, tachycardia, somnolence and sedation. Overall, four (3.1%) and three (2.1%) patients from the conventional and rapid initiation group, respectively, withdrew due to AEs. BPRS and CGI‐S scores decreased significantly (p < 0.001) from baseline in both groups.

Conclusion

A higher proportion of patients experienced AEs with rapid initiation of quetiapine (800 mg/day by Day 4), although withdrawals due to AEs were comparable. Rapid initiation of quetiapine was generally well tolerated and effective in this setting. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.