Seroquel and Dementia: Understanding Uses & Risks

Seroquel, or quetiapine fumarate, is an atypical anti-psychotic drug produced by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The FDA has approved this potent medicine for very specific uses.

Identification

• According to AstraZeneca, Seroquel is indicated for specific types of bipolar disorder as well as for schizophrenia.

Expert Insight

• According to AstraZeneca, Seroquel is not approved for use in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Considerations

• When an older adult develops dementia over time, it can be difficult to identify the exact onset of dementia-related psychosis. Symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions and hallucinations, are difficult to distinguish from the disorientation and anxiety typically seen in people with dementia. A doctor may have a hard time deciding whether it's safe to use Seroquel for these individuals.

Warning

• The black box warning issued by AstraZeneca says older adults with dementia-related psychosis who take Seroquel have a risk of death that's 1.6 to 1.7 times higher than that of elderly people treated with placebos.

Potential

• The major causes of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis who were on Seroquel were cardiovascular problems such as sudden death or heart failure and infectious diseases like pneumonia.