Journal article
Long-term adjunctive quetiapine may reduce substance use--a preliminary retrospective study
South Dakota medicine, Vol.60(11), pp.437-443
11/2007
PMID: 18196687
Abstract
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.
Method: 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.
Conclusion: 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.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Long-term adjunctive quetiapine may reduce substance use--a preliminary retrospective study
- Creators
- S. Pirzada Sattar - Avera McKennan Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United StatesSusan K. Schultz - Avera McKennan Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United StatesStephen Arndt - Avera McKennan Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United StatesTimothy Soundy - Avera McKennan Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United StatesFrederick Petty - Avera McKennan Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- South Dakota medicine, Vol.60(11), pp.437-443
- PMID
- 18196687
- NLM abbreviation
- South Dakota medicine : the journal of the South Dakota State Medical Association
- ISSN
- 0038-3317
- Number of pages
- 7
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/2007
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Biostatistics; Nursing; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9985132077202771
Metrics
1 Record Views