Quetiapine
Quick read
Quetiapine can be used in pregnancy if it is needed to ensure a woman remains well.
What is it?
Quetiapine (Seroquel®, Atrolak®, Biquelle®, Brancico®, Mintreleq®, Sondate®, Zaluron®) is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking quetiapine in pregnancy?
Quetiapine stabilises mood and improves feelings of wellbeing. It is very important that mental health conditions are appropriately treated to ensure a woman is well during pregnancy and while looking after her baby.
Risks
Are there any risks of taking quetiapine during pregnancy?
There is no evidence that use of quetiapine in pregnancy causes birth defects, preterm birth, or low infant birth weight. While the evidence for other pregnancy outcomes is also reassuring overall, only small numbers of women have been studied and ongoing data collection is ideally required.
Quetiapine and similar medicines have been linked to increased risks of gestational diabetes and having a larger baby.
Quetiapine can potentially cause short-term withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby if taken in the weeks before delivery. For this reason, a baby may be monitored for some time after birth to check for symptoms such as jitteriness, difficulty sleeping and breathing problems.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to taking quetiapine?
Possibly. Other medicines can be used to treat mental health conditions, so switching may be an option. If a woman’s condition is well-controlled with quetiapine, it may be best to stay on it rather than try something new and risk a relapse.
Ideally, a woman planning a pregnancy should speak to her GP or specialist to determine whether quetiapine is still the best option. Similarly, women who have an unplanned pregnancy while taking quetiapine should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity by their GP or specialist.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?
It is very important that mental health conditions are well-controlled during pregnancy. Discontinuing medication can cause symptoms to return and stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms.
A medicine will only be prescribed during pregnancy if absolutely necessary, and a doctor or specialist will be happy to discuss the benefits and any risks.
Please do not stop quetiapine without speaking to your midwife, GP or specialist.
Will I or my baby need extra monitoring?
All pregnant women in the UK should be offered a detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of their routine antenatal care. No extra monitoring for major birth defects is required following quetiapine use in pregnancy.
Because use of quetiapine in pregnancy may increase the chance of gestational diabetes and having a larger baby, extra blood sugar monitoring and growth scans may be offered.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken quetiapine?
We would not expect any increased risk to the baby if the father took quetiapine before or around the time you became pregnant.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.