Off-label prescriptions of quetiapine for sleep disturbances

Abstract

Introduction

Quetiapine, a short-acting atypical anti-psychotic drug for the treatment of bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia, is increasingly used off-label for the treatment of sleep disturbances or insomnia. However, data supporting this off-label prescription of quetiapine are limited.

Objectives and aims

To report and discuss the effects of “off-label” use of quetiapine for the treatment of sleep disturbances.

Methods

An English-language literature search was conducted using Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane library (December 1980–December 2015) using the search terms quetiapine, insomnia, sleep disorders, sleep disturbances, and sleeplessness.

Results

During the last decade, there is an enormous increase in prescribing quetiapine. This anti-psychotic drug is among the best selling drugs worldwide. For the approved indications, the usual therapeutic dose range is 400–800 mg/day. However, off-label use of quetiapine was most evident for the 25 mg/day to 100 mg/day. In some countries, off-label uses are promoted to non-psychiatrists for the treatment of insomnia, dementia, agitation, and aggression. Inappropriate anti-psychotic use may lead to serious health problems, including metabolic effects, increased sudden cardiac death, and age-related side effects with increased risk for orthostatic hypotension, fractures, pneumonia, cognitive impairment, and stroke.

Conclusion

There is growing concern regarding the potential harm from off-label prescription of anti-psychotics, particularly quetiapine. There is little evidence supporting the enormous off-label uses of quetiapine. In addition, prescribing quetiapine for indications that are not evidence based has ethical, financial, and safety implications, especially in the older population.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.