Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent that was unexpectedly found to have an abuse potential.
Approved uses: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, acute mania
Effects: antagonistic effects on serotonin 5-HT1A and 5HT2A, dopamine D1 and D2, histamine H1, and adrenergic alpha1 and alpha2 receptors.
It has a sedating and anxiolytic effect which can be enhanced by taking with other drugs such as cocaine..
The drug can be abused by nasal inhalation and intravenous injection.
Over time the person becomes dependent and experiences a withdrawal reaction if the drug is stopped.
Risk factors for abuse:
(1) history of drug or alcohol abuse
(2) institutional resident (prison inmate, mental hospital patient)
(3) failure of health care providers to consider the drug's abuse potential
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Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,
