Key Messages
Main Take-Aways
- Evidence-based guidelines recommend against the use of quetiapine for the treatment of insomnia.
- The findings of this review suggest that antipsychotics such as quetiapine should not be used in the treatment of insomnia.
What Is the Issue?
- Quetiapine is an atypical or second-generation antipsychotic drug that is primarily used for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Quetiapine extended-release is also indicated by Health Canada for the symptomatic relief of major depressive disorder when currently available approved antidepressant drugs have failed.
- Decision-makers are interested in evidence on the clinical effectiveness, safety, and place in therapy of quetiapine relative to other medications for the treatment of insomnia.
What Did We Do?
- We searched key resources, including journal citation databases, and conducted a focused internet search for relevant evidence published since 2020.
What Did We Find?
- Evidence-based guidelines recommend against the use of quetiapine for the treatment of insomnia due to potential concerns about safety and lack of evidence of clinical benefit.
What Does It Mean?
- Current evidence-based guidelines advise against prescribing quetiapine for the treatment of insomnia due to safety concerns and a lack of demonstrated clinical benefit.
- The findings of this review suggest that antipsychotics such as quetiapine should not be used in the treatment of insomnia.