Major Depressive Disorder and Seroquel XR

Seroquel XR is the proprietary name for an extended release form of an antipsychotic medication known as quetiapine fumerate. In the U.S. it's manufactured by AstraZeneca.

History

• Seroquel XR was originally approved by the FDA for schizophrenia and specific types of bipolar disorder. On December 9, 2009, FDA also approved it for adjunctive, or add-on, treatment of major depressive disorder in adults.

Significance

• As of December 9, 2009, Seroquel XR was the only drug in its class to earn FDA approval for use in combination with other drugs to treat major depressive disorder.

Identification

• According to AstraZeneca, Seroquel XR is available in 50, 150, 200, 300 and 400mg tablets. (See Reference 2)

Expert Insight

• AstraZeneca recommends beginning with 50mg of Seroquel XR a day and increasing to 150mg a day on day three to reduce the impact of the drug's potential side effects.

Time Frame

• Seroquel XR is taken once a day, preferably in the evening, and works over a 24-hour period.

Warnings

• Seroquel XR carries an FDA-mandated black box warning describing possible severe adverse effects. These include increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis and increased risk of suicide in children, teens and young adults.