SEROQUEL SIDE EFFECTS

SIDE EFFECTS

The following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling:

• Increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescents and young adults
• Cerebrovascular adverse reactions, including stroke in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis
• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
• Metabolic changes (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, weight gain)
• Tardive dyskinesia
• Hypotension
• Falls
• Increases in blood pressure (children and adolescents)
• Leukopenia, neutropenia and agranulocytosis
• Cataracts
• QT Prolongation
• Seizures
• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperprolactinemia
• Potential for cognitive and motor impairment
• Body temperature regulation
• Dysphagia
• Discontinuation Syndrome
• Anticholinergic (antimuscarinic) Effects

Clinical Study Experience

Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

Adults

The information below is derived from a clinical trial database for SEROQUEL consisting of over 4300 patients. This database includes 698 patients exposed to SEROQUEL for the treatment of bipolar depression, 405 patients exposed to SEROQUEL for the treatment of acute bipolar mania (monotherapy and adjunct therapy), 646 patients exposed to SEROQUEL for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder as adjunct therapy, and approximately 2600 patients and/or normal subjects exposed to 1 or more doses of SEROQUEL for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Of these approximately 4,300 subjects, approximately 4000 (2300 in schizophrenia, 405 in acute bipolar mania, 698 in bipolar depression, and 646 for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder) were patients who participated in multiple dose effectiveness trials, and their experience corresponded to approximately 2400 patient-years. The conditions and duration of treatment with SEROQUEL varied greatly and included (in overlapping categories) open-label and double-blind phases of studies, inpatients and outpatients, fixed-dose and dose-titration studies, and short-term or longer-term exposure. Adverse reactions were assessed by collecting adverse reactions, results of physical examinations, vital signs, weights, laboratory analyses, ECGs, and results of ophthalmologic examinations.

The stated frequencies of adverse reactions represent the proportion of individuals who experienced, at least once, an adverse reaction of the type listed.

Adverse Reactions Associated With Discontinuation Of Treatment In Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials

Schizophrenia

Overall, there was little difference in the incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions (4% for SEROQUEL vs. 3% for placebo) in a pool of controlled trials. However, discontinuations due to somnolence (0.8% SEROQUEL vs. 0% placebo) and hypotension (0.4% SEROQUEL vs. 0% placebo) were considered to be drug related.

Bipolar Disorder

Mania

Overall, discontinuations due to adverse reactions were 5.7% for SEROQUEL vs. 5.1% for placebo in monotherapy and 3.6% for SEROQUEL vs. 5.9% for placebo in adjunct therapy.

Depression

Overall, discontinuations due to adverse reactions were 12.3% for SEROQUEL 300 mg vs. 19.0% for SEROQUEL 600 mg and 5.2% for placebo.

Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials

In the acute therapy of schizophrenia (up to 6 weeks) and bipolar mania (up to 12 weeks) trials, the most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of SEROQUEL monotherapy (incidence of 5% or greater) and observed at a rate on SEROQUEL at least twice that of placebo were somnolence (18%), dizziness (11%), dry mouth (9%), constipation (8%), ALT increased (5%), weight gain (5%), and dyspepsia (5%).

Adverse Reactions Occurring at an Incidence of 2% or More Among SEROQUEL Treated Patients in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials

The prescriber should be aware that the figures in the tables and tabulations cannot be used to predict the incidence of side effects in the course of usual medical practice where patient characteristics and other factors differ from those that prevailed in the clinical trials. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be compared with figures obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses, and investigators. The cited figures, however, do provide the prescribing physician with some basis for estimating the relative contribution of drug and non-drug factors to the side effect incidence in the population studied.

Table 1enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during acute therapy of schizophrenia (up to 6 weeks) and bipolar mania (up to 12 weeks) in 2% or more of patients treated with SEROQUEL (doses ranging from 75 to 800 mg/day) where the incidence in patients treated with SEROQUEL was greater than the incidence in placebo-treated patients.

Table 1: Adverse Reaction Incidence in 3-to 12-Week Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials for the Treatment of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Mania (Monotherapy)

Preferred Term	SEROQUEL (n=719)	PLACEBO (n=404)
Headache	21%	14%
Agitation	20%	17%
Somnolence	18%	8%
Dizziness	11%	5%
Dry Mouth	9%	3%
Constipation	8%	3%
Pain	7%	5%
Tachycardia	6%	4%
Vomiting	6%	5%
Asthenia	5%	3%
Dyspepsia	5%	1%
Weight Gain	5%	1%
ALT Increased	5%	1%
Anxiety	4%	3%
Pharyngitis	4%	3%
Rash	4%	2%
Abdominal Pain	4%	1%
Postural Hypotension	4%	1%
Back Pain	3%	1%
AST Increased	3%	1%
Rhinitis	3%	1%
Fever	2%	1%
Gastroenteritis	2%	0%
Amblyopia	2%	1%

 

In the acute adjunct therapy of bipolar mania (up to 3 weeks) studies, the most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of SEROQUEL (incidence of 5% or greater) and observed at a rate on SEROQUEL at least twice that of placebo were somnolence (34%), dry mouth (19%), asthenia (10%), constipation (10%), abdominal pain (7%), postural hypotension (7%), pharyngitis (6%), and weight gain (6%).

Table 2 enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during therapy (up to 3 weeks) of acute mania in 2% or more of patients treated with SEROQUEL (doses ranging from 100 to 800 mg/day) used as adjunct therapy to lithium and divalproex where the incidence in patients treated with SEROQUEL was greater than the incidence in placebo-treated patients.

Table 2: Adverse Reaction Incidence in 3-Week Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials for the Treatment of Bipolar Mania (Adjunct Therapy)

Preferred Term	SEROQUEL (n=196)	PLACEBO (n=203)
Somnolence	34%	9%
Dry Mouth	19%	3%
Headache	17%	13%
Asthenia	10%	4%
Constipation	10%	5%
Dizziness	9%	6%
Tremor	8%	7%
Abdominal Pain	7%	3%
Postural Hypotension	7%	2%
Agitation	6%	4%
Weight Gain	6%	3%
Pharyngitis	6%	3%
Back Pain	5%	3%
Hypertonia	4%	3%
Rhinitis	4%	2%
Peripheral Edema	4%	2%
Twitching	4%	1%
Dyspepsia	4%	3%
Depression	3%	2%
Amblyopia	3%	2%
Speech Disorder	3%	1%
Hypotension	3%	1%
Hormone Level Altered	3%	0%
Heaviness	2%	1%
Infection	2%	1%
Fever	2%	1%
Hypertension	2%	1%
Tachycardia	2%	1%
Increased Appetite	2%	1%
Hypothyroidism	2%	1%
Incoordination	2%	1%
Thinking Abnormal	2%	0%
Anxiety	2%	0%
Ataxia	2%	0%
Sinusitis	2%	1%
Sweating	2%	1%
Urinary Tract Infection	2%	1%

 

In bipolar depression studies (up to 8 weeks), the most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of SEROQUEL (incidence of 5% or greater) and observed at a rate on SEROQUEL at least twice that of placebo were somnolence (57%), dry mouth (44%), dizziness (18%), constipation (10%), and lethargy (5%).

Table 3 enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during therapy (up to 8 weeks) of bipolar depression in 2% or more of patients treated with SEROQUEL (doses of 300 and 600 mg/day) where the incidence in patients treated with SEROQUEL was greater than the incidence in placebo-treated patients.

Table 3: Adverse Reaction Incidence in 8-Week Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials for the Treatment of Bipolar Depression

Preferred Term	SEROQUEL (n=698)	PLACEBO (n=347)
Somnolence1	57%	15%
Dry Mouth	44%	13%
Dizziness	18%	7%
Constipation	10%	4%
Fatigue	10%	8%
Dyspepsia	7%	4%
Vomiting	5%	4%
Increased Appetite	5%	3%
Lethargy	5%	2%
Nasal Congestion	5%	3%
Orthostatic Hypotension	4%	3%
Akathisia	4%	1%
Palpitations	4%	1%
Vision Blurred	4%	2%
Weight increased	4%	1%
Arthralgia	3%	2%
Paraesthesia	3%	2%
Cough	3%	1%
Extrapyramidal Disorder	3%	1%
Irritability	3%	1%
Dysarthria	3%	0%
Hypersomnia	3%	0%
Sinus Congestion	2%	1%
Abnormal Dreams	2%	1%
Tremor	2%	1%
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease	2%	1%
Pain in Extremity	2%	1%
Asthenia	2%	1%
Balance Disorder	2%	1%
Hypoesthesia	2%	1%
Dysphagia	2%	0%
Restless Legs Syndrome	2%	0%
1. Somnolence combines adverse reaction terms somnolence and sedation

 

Explorations for interactions on the basis of gender, age, and race did not reveal any clinically meaningful differences in the adverse reaction occurrence on the basis of these demographic factors.

Dose Dependency of Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials

Dose-related Adverse Reactions

Spontaneously elicited adverse reaction data from a study of schizophrenia comparing five fixed doses of SEROQUEL (75 mg, 150 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg, and 750 mg/day) to placebo were explored for dose-relatedness of adverse reactions. Logistic regression analyses revealed a positive dose response (p<0.05) for the following adverse reactions: dyspepsia, abdominal pain, and weight gain.

Adverse Reactions in clinical trials with quetiapine and not listed elsewhere in the label:

The following adverse reactions have also been reported with quetiapine: nightmares, hypersensitivity, and elevations in serum creatine phosphokinase (not associated with NMS), galactorrhea, bradycardia (which may occur at or near initiation of treatment and be associated with hypotension and/or syncope) decreased platelets, somnambulism (and other related events), elevations in gamma-GT levels, hypothermia, dyspnea, eosinophilia, urinary retention, intestinal obstruction and priapism.

Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS)

Dystonia

Class Effect

Symptoms of dystonia, prolonged abnormal contractions of muscle groups, may occur in susceptible individuals during the first few days of treatment. Dystonic symptoms include: spasm of the neck muscles, sometimes progressing to tightness of the throat, swallowing difficulty, difficulty breathing, and/or protrusion of the tongue. While these symptoms can occur at low doses, they occur more frequently and with greater severity with high potency and at higher doses of first generation antipsychotic drugs. An elevated risk of acute dystonia is observed in males and younger age groups.

Four methods were used to measure EPS: (1) Simpson-Angus total score (mean change from baseline) which evaluates Parkinsonism and akathisia, (2) Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) Global Assessment Score, (3) incidence of spontaneous complaints of EPS (akathisia, akinesia, cogwheel rigidity, extrapyramidal syndrome, hypertonia, hypokinesia, neck rigidity, and tremor), and (4) use of anticholinergic medications to treat EPS.

Adults

Data from one 6-week clinical trial of schizophrenia comparing five fixed doses of SEROQUEL (75, 150, 300, 600, 750 mg/day) provided evidence for the lack of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and dose-relatedness for EPS associated with SEROQUEL treatment. Three methods were used to measure EPS: (1) Simpson-Angus total score (mean change from baseline) which evaluates Parkinsonism and akathisia, (2) incidence of spontaneous complaints of EPS (akathisia, akinesia, cogwheel rigidity, extrapyramidal syndrome, hypertonia, hypokinesia, neck rigidity, and tremor), and (3) use of anticholinergic medications to EPS.

In Table 4, dystonic event included nuchal rigidity, hypertonia, dystonia, muscle rigidity, oculogyration; parkinsonism included cogwheel rigidity, tremor, drooling, hypokinesia; akathisia included akathisia, psychomotor agitation; dyskinetic event included tardive dyskinesia, dyskinesia, choreoathetosis; and other extrapyramidal event included restlessness, extrapyramidal disorder, movement disorder.

Table 4: Adverse Reactions Associated with EPS in a Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Multiple Fixed-Dose Phase III Schizophrenia Trial (6 weeks duration)

Preferred Term	SEROQUEL 75 mg/day (N=53)		SEROQUEL 150 mg/day (N=48)		SEROQUEL 300 mg/day (N=52)		SEROQUEL 600 mg/day (N=51)		SEROQUEL 750 mg/day (N=54)		Placebo (N=51)
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Dystonic event	2	3.8	2	4.2	0	0.0	2	3.9	3	5.6	4	7.8
Parkinsonism	2	3.8	0	0.0	1	1.9	1	2.0	1	1.9	4	7.8
Akathisia	1	1.9	1	2.1	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	1.9	4	7.8
Dyskinetic event	2	3.8	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	2.0	0	0.0	0	0.0
Other extrapyramidal event	2	3.8	0	0.0	3	5.8	3	5.9	1	1.9	4	7.8

 

Parkinsonism incidence rates as measured by the Simpson-Angus total score for placebo and the five fixed doses (75, 150, 300, 600, 750 mg/day) were: -0.6; -1.0, -1.2; -1.6; -1.8, and -1.8. The rate of anticholinergic medication use to treat EPS for placebo and the five fixed doses was: 14%; 11%; 10%; 8%; 12%, and 11%.

In six additional placebo-controlled clinical trials (3 in acute mania and 3 in schizophrenia) using variable doses of SEROQUEL, there were no differences between the SEROQUEL and placebo treatment groups in the incidence of EPS, as assessed by Simpson-Angus total scores, spontaneous complaints of EPS and the use of concomitant anticholinergic medications to treat EPS.

In two placebo-controlled clinical trials for the treatment of bipolar depression using 300 mg and 600 mg of SEROQUEL, the incidence of adverse reactions potentially related to EPS was 12% in both dose groups and 6% in the placebo group. In these studies, the incidence of the individual adverse reactions (akathisia, extrapyramidal disorder, tremor, dyskinesia, dystonia, restlessness, muscle contractions involuntary, psychomotor hyperactivity, and muscle rigidity) were generally low and did not exceed 4% in any treatment group.

The 3 treatment groups were similar in mean change in SAS total score and BARS Global Assessment score at the end of treatment. The use of concomitant anticholinergic medications was infrequent and similar across the three treatment groups.

Children And Adolescents

The information below is derived from a clinical trial database for SEROQUEL consisting of over 1000 pediatric patients. This database includes 677 patients exposed to SEROQUEL for the treatment of schizophrenia and 393 children and adolescents (10-17 years old) exposed to SEROQUEL for the treatment of acute bipolar mania.

Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials

Schizophrenia

The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions for quetiapine-treated and placebo-treated patients was 8.2% and 2.7%, respectively. The adverse event leading to discontinuation in 1% or more of patients on SEROQUEL and at a greater incidence than placebo was somnolence (2.7% and 0% for placebo).

Bipolar I Mania

The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions for quetiapine-treated and placebo-treated patients was 11.4% and 4.4%, respectively. The adverse reactions leading to discontinuation in 2% or more of patients on SEROQUEL and at a greater incidence than placebo were somnolence (4.1% vs. 1.1%) and fatigue (2.1% vs. 0).

Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials

In therapy for schizophrenia (up to 6 weeks), the most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of quetiapine in adolescents (incidence of 5% or greater and quetiapine incidence at least twice that for placebo) were somnolence (34%), dizziness (12%), dry mouth (7%), tachycardia (7%).

In bipolar mania therapy (up to 3 weeks) the most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of quetiapine in children and adolescents (incidence of 5% or greater and quetiapine incidence at least twice that for placebo) were somnolence (53%), dizziness (18%), fatigue (11%), increased appetite (9%), nausea (8%), vomiting (8%), tachycardia (7%), dry mouth (7%), and weight increased (6%).

In an acute (8-week) SEROQUEL XR trial in children and adolescents (10-17 years of age) with bipolar depression, in which efficacy was not established, the most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of SEROQUEL XR (incidence of 5% or greater and at least twice that for placebo) were dizziness 7%, diarrhea 5%, fatigue 5%, and nausea 5%.

Adverse Reactions Occurring at an Incidence of ≥ 2% among SEROQUEL Treated Patients in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials

Schizophrenia (Adolescents, 13-17 Years Old)

The following findings were based on a 6-week placebo-controlled trial in which quetiapine was administered in either doses of 400 or 800 mg/day.

Table 13 enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during therapy (up to 6 weeks) of schizophrenia in 2% or more of patients treated with SEROQUEL (doses of 400 or 800 mg/day) where the incidence in patients treated with SEROQUEL was at least twice the incidence in placebo-treated patients.

Adverse reactions that were potentially dose-related with higher frequency in the 800 mg group compared to the 400 mg group included dizziness (8% vs. 15%), dry mouth (4% vs. 10%), and tachycardia (6% vs. 11%).

Table 5: Adverse Reaction Incidence in a 6-Week Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Schizophrenia in Adolescent Patients

Preferred Term	SEROQUEL 400 mg (n=73)	SEROQUEL 800 mg (n=74)	Placebo (n=75)
Somnolence1	33%	35%	11%
Dizziness	8%	15%	5%
Dry Mouth	4%	10%	1%
Tachycardia2	6%	11%	0%
Irritability	3%	5%	0%
Arthralgia	1%	3%	0%
Asthenia	1%	3%	1%
Back Pain	1%	3%	0%
Dyspnea	0%	3%	0%
Abdominal Pain	3%	1%	0%
Anorexia	3%	1%	0%
Tooth Abscess	3%	1%	0%
Dyskinesia	3%	0%	0%
Epistaxis	3%	0%	1%
Muscle Rigidity	3%	0%	0%
1. Somnolence combines adverse reaction terms somnolence and sedation. 2. Tachycardia combines adverse reaction terms tachycardia and sinus tachycardia.

 

Bipolar I Mania (Children And Adolescents 10-17 Years Old)

The following findings were based on a 3-week placebo-controlled trial in which quetiapine was administered in either doses of 400 or 600 mg/day.

Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions

In bipolar mania therapy (up to 3 weeks) the most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of quetiapine in children and adolescents (incidence of 5% or greater and quetiapine incidence at least twice that for placebo) were somnolence (53%), dizziness (18%), fatigue (11%), increased appetite (9%), nausea (8%), vomiting (8%), tachycardia (7%), dry mouth (7%), and weight increased (6%).

Table 14 enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during therapy (up to 3 weeks) of bipolar mania in 2% or more of patients treated with SEROQUEL (doses of 400 or 600 mg/day) where the incidence in patients treated with SEROQUEL was greater than the incidence in placebo-treated patients.

Adverse reactions that were potentially dose-related with higher frequency in the 600 mg group compared to the 400 mg group included somnolence (50% vs. 57%), nausea (6% vs. 10%), and tachycardia (6% vs. 9%).

Table 6: Adverse Reactions in a 3-Week Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial for the Treatment of BipolarMania in Children and Adolescent Patients

Preferred Term	SEROQUEL 400 mg (n=95)	SEROQUEL 600 mg (n=98)	Placebo (n=90)
Somnolence1	50%	57%	14%
Dizziness	19%	17%	2%
Nausea	6%	10%	4%
Fatigue	14%	9%	4%
Increased Appetite	10%	9%	1%
Tachycardia2	6%	9%	1%
Dry Mouth	7%	7%	0%
Vomiting	8%	7%	3%
Nasal Congestion	3%	6%	2%
Weight Increased	6%	6%	0%
Irritability	3%	5%	1%
Pyrexia	1%	4%	1%
Aggression	1%	3%	0%
Musculoskeletal Stiffness	1%	3%	1%
Accidental Overdose	0%	2%	0%
Acne	3%	2%	0%
Arthralgia	4%	2%	1%
Lethargy	2%	2%	0%
Pallor	1%	2%	0%
Stomach Discomfort	4%	2%	1%
Syncope	2%	2%	0%
Vision Blurred	3%	2%	0%
Constipation	4%	2%	0%
Ear Pain	2%	0%	0%
Paresthesia	2%	0%	0%
Sinus Congestion	3%	0%	0%
Thirst	2%	0%	0%
1. Somnolence combines adverse reactions terms somnolence and sedation. 2. Tachycardia combines adverse reaction terms tachycardia and sinus tachycardia.

 

Extrapyramidal Symptoms

In a short-term placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in adolescent patients with schizophrenia (6-week duration), the aggregated incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms was 12.9% (19/147) for SEROQUEL and 5.3% (4/75) for placebo, though the incidence of the individual adverse reactions (akathisia, tremor, extrapyramidal disorder, hypokinesia, restlessness, psychomotor hyperactivity, muscle rigidity, dyskinesia) did not exceed 4.1% in any treatment group. In a short-term placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in children and adolescent patients with bipolar mania (3-week duration), the aggregated incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms was 3.6% (7/193) or SEROQUEL and 1.1% (1/90) for placebo.

Table 7 presents a listing of patients with adverse reactions potentially associated with extrapyramidal symptoms in the short-term placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in adolescent patients with schizophrenia (6-week duration).

In Tables 7–8, dystonic event included nuchal rigidity, hypertonia, and muscle rigidity; parkinsonism included cogwheel rigidity and tremor; akathisia included akathisia only; dyskinetic event included tardive dyskinesia, dyskinesia, and choreoathetosis; and other extrapyramidal event included restlessness and extrapyramidal disorder.

Table 7: Adverse Reactions Associated with Extrapyramidal Symptoms in the Placebo-controlled Trialin Adolescent Patients with Schizophrenia (6-week duration)

Preferred Term	SEROQUEL 400 mg/day (N=73)		SEROQUEL 800 mg/day (N=74)		All SEROQUEL (N=147)		Placebo (N=75)
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Dystonic event	2	2.7	0	0.0	2	1.4	0	0.0
Parkinsonism	4	5.5	4	5.4	8	5.4	2	2.7
Akathisia	3	4.1	4	5.4	7	4.8	3	4.0
Dyskinetic event	2	2.7	0	0.0	2	1.4	0	0.0
Other Extrapyramidal Event	2	2.7	2	2.7	4	2.7	0	0.0

 

Table 8 presents a listing of patients with adverse reactions associated with extrapyramidal symptoms in a short-term placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in children and adolescent patients with bipolar mania (3-week duration).

Table 8: Adverse Reactions Associated with Extrapyramidal Symptoms in a Placebo-Controlled Trialin Children and Adolescent Patients with Bipolar I Mania (3-week duration)

Preferred Term1	SEROQUEL 400 mg/day (N=95)		SEROQUEL 600 mg/day (N=98)		All SEROQUEL (N=193)		Placebo (N=90)
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Parkinsonism	2	2.1	1	1.0	3	1.6	1	1.1
Akathisia	1	1.0	1	1.0	2	1.0	0	0.0
Other Extrapyramidal Event	1	1.1	1	1.0	2	1.0	0	0.0
1. There were no adverse reactions with the preferred term of dystonic or dyskinetic events.

 

Laboratory, ECG, and vital sign changes observed in clinical studies

Laboratory Changes

Neutrophil Counts

Adults

In placebo-controlled monotherapy clinical trials involving 3368 patients on quetiapine fumarate and 1515 on placebo, the incidence of at least one occurrence of neutrophil count <1.0 x 10⁹/L among patients with a normal baseline neutrophil count and at least one available follow up laboratory measurement was 0.3% (10/2967) in patients treated with quetiapine fumarate, compared to 0.1% (2/1349) in patients treated with placebo.

Transaminase Elevations

Adults

Asymptomatic, transient, and reversible elevations in serum transaminases (primarily ALT) have been reported. In schizophrenia trials in adults, the proportions of patients with transaminase elevations of >3 times the upper limits of the normal reference range in a pool of 3-to 6-week placebo-controlled trials were approximately 6% (29/483) for SEROQUEL compared to 1% (3/194) for placebo. In acute bipolar mania trials in adults, the proportions of patients with transaminase elevations of >3 times the upper limits of the normal reference range in a pool of 3-to 12-week placebo-controlled trials were approximately 1% for both SEROQUEL (3/560) and placebo (3/294). These hepatic enzyme elevations usually occurred within the first 3 weeks of drug treatment and promptly returned to pre-study levels with ongoing treatment with SEROQUEL. In bipolar depression trials, the proportions of patients with transaminase elevations of >3 times the upper limits of the normal reference range in two 8-week placebo-controlled trials was 1% (5/698) for SEROQUEL and 2% (6/347) for placebo.

Decreased Hemoglobin

Adults

In short-term placebo-controlled trials, decreases in hemoglobin to ≤13 g/dL males, ≤12 g/dL females on at least one occasion occurred in 8.3% (594/7155) of quetiapine-treated patients compared to 6.2% (219/3536) of patients treated with placebo. In a database of controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials, decreases in hemoglobin to ≤13 g/dL males, ≤12 g/dL females on at least one occasion occurred in 11% (2277/20729) of quetiapine-treated patients.

Interference With Urine Drug Screens

There have been literature reports suggesting false positive results in urine enzyme immunoassays for methadone and tricyclic antidepressants in patients who have taken quetiapine. Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of positive urine drug screen results for these drugs, and confirmation by alternative analytical technique (e.g., chromatographic methods) should be considered.

ECG Changes

Adults

Between-group comparisons for pooled placebo-controlled trials revealed no statistically significant SEROQUEL/placebo differences in the proportions of patients experiencing potentially important changes in ECG parameters, including QT, QTc, and PR intervals. However, the proportions of patients meeting the criteria for tachycardia were compared in four 3-to 6-week placebo-controlled clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia revealing a 1% (4/399) incidence for SEROQUEL compared to 0.6% (1/156) incidence for placebo. In acute (monotherapy) bipolar mania trials the proportions of patients meeting the criteria for tachycardia was 0.5% (1/192) for SEROQUEL compared to 0% (0/178) incidence for placebo. In acute bipolar mania (adjunct) trials the proportions of patients meeting the same criteria was 0.6% (1/166) for SEROQUEL compared to 0% (0/171) incidence for placebo. In bipolar depression trials, no patients had heart rate increases to >120 beats per minute. SEROQUEL use was associated with a mean increase in heart rate, assessed by ECG, of 7 beats per minute compared to a mean increase of 1 beat per minute among placebo patients. This slight tendency to tachycardia in adults may be related to SEROQUEL’s potential for inducing orthostatic changes.

Children and Adolescents

In the acute (6-week) schizophrenia trial in adolescents, increases in heart rate (>110 bpm) occurred in 5.2% (3/73) of patients receiving SEROQUEL 400 mg and 8.5% (5/74) of patients receiving SEROQUEL 800 mg compared to 0% (0/75) of patients receiving placebo. Mean increases in heart rate were 3.8 bpm and 11.2 bpm for SEROQUEL 400 mg and 800 mg groups, respectively, compared to a decrease of 3.3 bpm in the placebo group.

In the acute (3-week) bipolar mania trial in children and adolescents, increases in heart rate (>110 bpm) occurred in 1.1% (1/89) of patients receiving SEROQUEL 400 mg and 4.7% (4/85) of patients receiving SEROQUEL 600 mg compared to 0% (0/98) of patients receiving placebo. Mean increases in heart rate were 12.8 bpm and 13.4 bpm for SEROQUEL 400 mg and 600 mg groups, respectively, compared to a decrease of 1.7 bpm in the placebo group.

In an acute (8-week) SEROQUEL XR trial in children and adolescents (10-17 years of age) with bipolar depression, in which efficacy was not established, increases in heart rate (>110 bpm 10-12 years and 13-17 years) occurred in 0% of patients receiving SEROQUEL XR and 1.2% of patients receiving placebo. Mean increases in heart rate were 3.4 bpm for SEROQUEL XR, compared to 0.3 bpm in the placebo group.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions were identified during post approval of SEROQUEL. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Adverse reactions reported since market introduction which were temporally related to quetiapine therapy include anaphylactic reaction, cardiomyopathy, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), hyponatremia, myocarditis, nocturnal enuresis, pancreatitis, retrograde amnesia, rhabdomyolysis, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), decreased platelet count, serious liver reactions (including hepatitis, liver necrosis, and hepatic failure), agranulocytosis, intestinal obstruction, ileus, colon ischemia, urinary retention, sleep apnea, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP).

 

SRC: NLM .