Back | Search Headlines | Headlines

22 June 2001

Quetiapine in bipolar disorder with cocaine dependency

In a 12 week, open-label study involving 17 outpatients (18-25 years) who had bipolar disorder and cocaine dependence, quietapine (Seroquel) improved both the depressive and manic symptoms and significantly reduced cocaine cravings. Patients received a flexible dosing schedule starting with quietapine (50 to 100mg) Doses were titrated upward weekly.(br>
Both depressive and manic symptom scores improved significantly from baseline as did cocaine cravings. Eight subjects who completed all 12 weeks of the study had an 87% reduction in the amount of money spent on cocaine. The findings from this pilot study are promising and suggest that larger controlled studies of quetiapine in this patient population are needed.

 Presented at the 4th International Conference on Bipolar disorder (Pittsburgh, 14-16 June 2001)

NewDrugFile News 21 June 2001