Twice-yearly exams unnecessary for patients taking quetiapine

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology 2004-11, Vol.138 (5), p.870-871
• Main Author: Fraunfelder, Frederick W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; Aged; Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Cataract - chemically induced; Cataracts; Child; Cholesterol; Dibenzothiazepines - adverse effects; Drug Monitoring; Drug therapy; Female; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Lens, Crystalline - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; Physical Examination - statistics & numerical data; Quetiapine Fumarate; Registries; United States; Uvea diseases; World Health Organization
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2004.05.038

To determine the necessity for the heightened level of monitoring for cataract development in patients taking quetiapine (Seroquel, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Wilmington, Delaware) dictated by the Physicians' Desk Reference. Also, to explore the possibility of cataractogenesis because of quetiapine therapy. Observational case series. Data were garnered from a series of 80 case reports collected at the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects (Portland, Oregon). The World Health Organization (WHO) causality assessment guidelines were used to assess the relationship between quetiapine and cataractogenesis. There were 34 reports of cataracts associated with quetiapine therapy. Average age was 44 years with 23 females and 11 males studied. Average duration of therapy was 29.3 weeks on standard doses. Cataractogenesis secondary to quetiapine is “unlikely” by WHO guidelines. This probably makes it unnecessary to require biannual ophthalmic examinations as routine eye examinations are sufficient to screen for this condition.