Rapid quetiapine loading in youths with bipolar disorder.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of rapid quetiapine loading in youth diagnosed with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD).

METHOD:

Quetiapine was started at 100 mg/day, and increased to 400 mg/day by day 5 in 75 bipolar children (6-16 years), presenting in an acute manic or hypomanic episode. Subsequent dose adjustments were predicated on the clinical picture. Response was defined as a ≥ 50% reduction in baseline scores on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale (CGI-I) scores of "2 much improved" or "1 very much improved" were used as secondary measures of response. Remission was defined as a YMRS score of ≤ 12. Adverse events, blood pressure, weight change, somnolence, extrapyramidal syndrome (EPS), and akathisia were monitored to determine tolerability.

RESULTS:

At 8 weeks, 94% of the sample had a CGI-I score ≤ 2, and 70% were in remission at 6 months. Sedation was reported by 50% of subjects during the first week; this rate dropped to 5.6% at 6 months.

CONCLUSION:

The findings indicate that rapid dose administration of quetiapine in children and adolescents with PBD is generally well tolerated and efficacious.

• Authors: Russell E Scheffer, Aveekshit Tripathi, Forest G Kirkpatrick, Tara Schultz
• Journal: Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology (J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol) Vol. 20 Issue 5 Pg. 441-5 (Oct 2010) ISSN: 1557-8992 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20973715 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Dibenzothiazepines
• Quetiapine Fumarate

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antipsychotic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Basal Ganglia Diseases (chemically induced)
• Bipolar Disorder (diagnosis, drug therapy, psychology)
• Child
• Dibenzothiazepines (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Quetiapine Fumarate
• Retrospective Studies
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome