Alessandro E Vento1,2,3,4, Georgios D Kotzalidis1, Marta Cacciotti1,2,3,4, G Duccio Papanti5,6, Laura Orsolini6,7,8, Chiara Rapinesi1, Valeria Savoja1,9, Giuseppa Calabrò1, Antonio Del Casale1, Daria Piacentino1,10, Matteo Caloro1, Paolo Girardi1, Fabrizio Schifano6. 1. NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University - Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology; Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy. 2. School of psychology - G. Marconi, Telematic University, Rome, Italy. 3. Addictions Observatory (ODDPSS), Rome, Italy. 4. Mental Health Department - ASL Roma 2, Rome, Italy. 5. Udine Mental Health Department - SOPDC, Udine, Italy. 6. Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Herts, England. 7. Neomesia Mental Health, Villa Jolanda Hospital, Jesi, Italy. 8. Polyedra Research, Teramo, Italy. 9. Mental Health Department, ASL Roma 4, Rome, Italy. 10. Section on Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology (Cpn), Niaaa Dicbr and Nida Irp; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Abstract
Background: Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic endowed with weak dopamine antagonist, potent 5-HT2A-blocking, partial 5-HT1A-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.
Background: Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic endowed with weak dopamine antagonist, potent 5-HT2A-blocking, partial 5-HT1A-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.