Long-term adjunctive quetiapine may reduce substance use--a preliminary retrospective study.
BACKGROUND
Anxiety disorders often coexist with substance use and complicate treatment by causing non-adherence and relapse. Optimal treatment generally involves the treatment of anxiety along with the treatment of substance abuse. Substance-abuse treatment generally involves individual and group therapy, sobriety maintenance interventions, structured living, and attending self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Pharmacotherapy options for treating substance abuse are limited, but atypical antipsychotic medications have reportedly reduced substance abuse when used in patients with alcohol and drug problems. However, there are no reports of long-term benefits of these medications.


OBJECTIVE
To assess long-term effects of adjunctive quetiapine on substance abuse in patients treated with quetiapine for severe anxiety symptoms.


METHODS
In a previous paper, we reported that adjunctive treatment with quetiapine reduced symptoms of anxiety and cravings for alcohol and drugs when used in patients with anxiety disorders or with anxiety due to alcohol/drug dependence/abuse. In this study, we followed up with these patients one year later to assess their current symptoms, cravings and use of alcohol/drugs, and compared these to results of random breathalyzer and urine drug screening tests conducted as part of routine outpatient treatment of their substance abuse.


RESULTS
Six of nine patients continued to take adjunctive quetiapine over the previous 12-month period and reported complete sobriety (substantiated by their random breathalyzer and urine drug screens) and significant reduction in anxiety, depression, and cravings for alcohol and drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Adjunctive quetiapine used for treatment of anxiety symptoms that may occur as part of different psychiatric disorders in patients with alcohol and drug problems might reduce cravings and substance use.
Sattar
S Pirzada
SP
Avera McKennan Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
Schultz
Susan K
SK
Arndt
Stephen
S
Soundy
Timothy
T
Petty
Frederick
F
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate