Quetaz Dosage/Direction for Use

Recommended dose: Adults: For the treatment of schizophrenia: For the treatment of schizophrenia, quetiapine should be administered twice a day with or without food. The total daily dose for the first four days of therapy is 50 mg (Day 1), 100 mg (Day 2), 200 mg (Day 3) and 300 mg (Day 4). From Day 4 onwards, the dose should be titrated to the usual effective dose of 300 to 450 mg/day. Depending on the clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient, the dose may be adjusted within the range 150 to 750 mg/day.
For treatment of manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder: Quetiapine should be administered twice a day with or without food. The total daily dose for the first four days of therapy is 100 mg (Day 1), 200 mg (Day 2), 300 mg (Day 3), and 400 mg (Day 4). Further dosage adjustment up to 800 mg/day by Day 6 should be in increments of no greater than 200 mg/day.
The dose may be adjusted depending on clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient, within the range of 200-800 mg/day. The usual effective dose is in the range of 400 to 800 mg/day.
For treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder: Quetiapine should be administered once daily at bedtime with or without food. Quetiapine should be titrated as follows: 50 mg (Day 1), 100 mg (Day 2), 200 mg (Day 3) and 300 mg (Day 4). Quetiapine can be titrated to 400 mg on Day 5 and up to 600 mg by Day 8.
Antidepressant efficacy was demonstrated with quetiapine at 300 mg and 600 mg however no additional benefit was seen in the 600 mg group during short-term treatment.
For the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in combination with mood stabilizers (lithium or valproate): Patients who have responded to quetiapine in combination therapy to a mood stabilizer (lithium or valproate) for acute treatment of bipolar disorder should continue on quetiapine therapy at the same dose. Quetiapine dose can be re-adjusted depending on clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient. Efficacy was demonstrated with quetiapine (administered twice daily totaling 400 mg to 800 mg a day) as combination therapy to mood stabilizer (lithium or valproate).
Elderly: As with other antipsychotics, quetiapine should be used with caution in the elderly, especially during the initial dosing period. The rate of dose titration may need to be slower, and the daily therapeutic dose lower, than that used in younger patients, depending on the clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient. The mean plasma clearance of quetiapine was reduced by 30% to 50% in elderly patients when compared with younger patients.
Children and adolescents: The safety and efficacy of quetiapine have not been evaluated in children and adolescents.
Renal impairment: Dosage adjustment is not necessary.
Hepatic impairment: Quetiapine is extensively metabolized by the liver. Therefore, Quetiapine should be used with caution in patients with known hepatic impairment, especially during the initial dosing period. Patients with known hepatic impairment should be started with 25 mg/day. The dosage should be increased daily with increments of 25-50 mg/day to an effective dose, depending on the clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient.
Mode of administration: Quetiapine is oral tablet and can be administered with or without food.