The Efficacy and Safety of Quetiapine XR in Patients With Schizophrenia Switched From Other Antipsychotics

Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH)61 enrolled

Overview

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-daily quetiapine extended release (XR) in patients with schizophrenia switched from other antipsychotics which were suboptimal due to insufficient efficacy or insufficient tolerability. Methods: This was a 12-week, open-label study conducted in the Chinese population in Taiwan. Quetiapine XR was administrated at 300 mg on day 1, 600 mg on day 2 and up to 800 mg after day 2. From day 8 until the end of the study, the dose of quetiapine XR was adjusted within 400-800 mg per day, depending on the clinical response and tolerability of the patients.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Interventions

Administration of quetiapine XR

The treatment was initiated with a 7-day cross-titration period. Previous antipsychotic medication was maintained at the original dose from day 1 to day 3; then reduced to 50% of the original dose from day 4 to day 7 and discontinued on day 8. Meanwhile, the patients started quetiapine XR with daily dose at 300 mg on day 1, 600 mg on day 2 and up to 800 mg after day 2. From day 8 until the end of the study, the dose of quetiapine XR was adjusted within 400-800 mg per day, depending on the clinical response and tolerability of the patients.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * The participants who were aged from 20 to 65 years and met the diagnosis of schizophrenia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) were eligible for the recruitment to the clinical trial. * They also fulfilled the criteria including having a score of 4 (moderate) or greater on any of the 7 items of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Positive Symptom Subscale and needed to switch from previous antipsychotics due to insufficient efficacy or insufficient tolerability. Exclusion Criteria: * Any DSM-IV-TR Axis I disorder other than schizophrenia, except comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder, eating disorders or impulse control disorders if they had been stable and had not been primary focus of treatment over the previous 6 months * An imminent risk of suicide or a danger to self or others * Pregnancy or lactation * Intolerance or lack of response to quetiapine IR * Use of cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors or inducers in the 14 days preceding enrolment * Administration of a depot antipsychotic injection within one dosing interval before recruitment * Unstable or inadequately treated medical illness as judged by the investigator.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Efficacy Assessments

The variable of the primary endpoint was the change from baseline to Week 12 in PANSS total and subscale score.

Time frame: 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Safety Assessments

The occurrence and severity of adverse events (AEs) will be recorded throughout the study to assess the tolerability of quetiapine XR, including AEs spontaneously reported by the patients or observed by the staff.