Off-label quetiapine ‘ups risk of major CV events’
Danish researchers say off-label use of the antipsychotic should be avoided, particularly in women and over-65s
Low-dose quetiapine used off label as a sedative carries a higher risk of cardiovascular-related death than Z-drug hypnotics or SSRIs, Danish researchers have found.Â
Quetiapine has already been linked to weight gain and elevated LDL cholesterol when used in 400-800mg doses for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
But writing in World Psychiatry, the researchers said there were few studies on the impact of doses under 50mg, which were often prescribed off label for insomnia or anxiety.
In their nationwide cohort study, they compared the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events among 61,000 patients taking low-dose quetiapine and 455,000 patients taking Z-drugs such as zolpidem.
