Intoxication after Extreme Oral Overdose of Quetiapine to Attempt Suicide: Pharmacological Concerns of Side Effects

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic approved for the treatment of patients with psychotic disorders. Since approvement several case reports about intoxication with quetiapine were linked mainly with tachycardia, QTc-prolongation, somnolence, and hyperglycemia. Here, we present the first case rep...

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Main Authors: C. Müller, H. Reuter, C. Dohmen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2009-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/371698
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author C. Müller
H. Reuter
C. Dohmen
author_facet C. Müller
H. Reuter
C. Dohmen
author_sort C. Müller
collection DOAJ
description Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic approved for the treatment of patients with psychotic disorders. Since approvement several case reports about intoxication with quetiapine were linked mainly with tachycardia, QTc-prolongation, somnolence, and hyperglycemia. Here, we present the first case report of an intoxication with an extreme overdose of quetiapine (36 g), ingested by a 32-year-old female (62 kg bodyweight) to attempt suicide. Symptoms associated with intoxication were coma without arterial hypotension, persistent tachycardia, hyperglycemia, and transient hypothyreoidism. QTc-interval was moderately extended. Management consisted of intubation for airway protection, gastric lavage, the use of activated charcoal, i.v. saline, and observation for 17 hours on an intensive care unit. Despite the extremely high dose of quetiapine, the patient recovered completely without residual symptoms.
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spelling doaj-art-3cd9ec58562044ff89fdbce31ad4c43d2025-08-20T03:55:33ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352009-01-01200910.1155/2009/371698371698Intoxication after Extreme Oral Overdose of Quetiapine to Attempt Suicide: Pharmacological Concerns of Side EffectsC. Müller0H. Reuter1C. Dohmen2Institute of Pharmacology, University of Cologne, Gleuelerstr. 24, 50931 Cologne, GermanyDepartment III of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Kerpenerstr. 62, 50937 Cologne, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Gleuelerstr. 50, 50931 Cologne, GermanyQuetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic approved for the treatment of patients with psychotic disorders. Since approvement several case reports about intoxication with quetiapine were linked mainly with tachycardia, QTc-prolongation, somnolence, and hyperglycemia. Here, we present the first case report of an intoxication with an extreme overdose of quetiapine (36 g), ingested by a 32-year-old female (62 kg bodyweight) to attempt suicide. Symptoms associated with intoxication were coma without arterial hypotension, persistent tachycardia, hyperglycemia, and transient hypothyreoidism. QTc-interval was moderately extended. Management consisted of intubation for airway protection, gastric lavage, the use of activated charcoal, i.v. saline, and observation for 17 hours on an intensive care unit. Despite the extremely high dose of quetiapine, the patient recovered completely without residual symptoms.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/371698
spellingShingle C. Müller
H. Reuter
C. Dohmen
Intoxication after Extreme Oral Overdose of Quetiapine to Attempt Suicide: Pharmacological Concerns of Side Effects
Case Reports in Medicine
title Intoxication after Extreme Oral Overdose of Quetiapine to Attempt Suicide: Pharmacological Concerns of Side Effects
title_full Intoxication after Extreme Oral Overdose of Quetiapine to Attempt Suicide: Pharmacological Concerns of Side Effects
title_fullStr Intoxication after Extreme Oral Overdose of Quetiapine to Attempt Suicide: Pharmacological Concerns of Side Effects
title_full_unstemmed Intoxication after Extreme Oral Overdose of Quetiapine to Attempt Suicide: Pharmacological Concerns of Side Effects
title_short Intoxication after Extreme Oral Overdose of Quetiapine to Attempt Suicide: Pharmacological Concerns of Side Effects
title_sort intoxication after extreme oral overdose of quetiapine to attempt suicide pharmacological concerns of side effects
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/371698
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AT cdohmen intoxicationafterextremeoraloverdoseofquetiapinetoattemptsuicidepharmacologicalconcernsofsideeffects