Gaschromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) determination of quetiapine in two non-fatal poisoning: diagnosis of intoxication and drug elimination monitoring

References Gaschromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) determination of quetiapine in two non-fatal poisoning: diagnosis of intoxication and drug elimination monitoring Background Quetiapine is a benzazepinic derivate and part of the family of atypical antipsychotics. Is currently marketed to treat schizophrenia and prescribed in association with other drugs acting in the CNS. After oral administration and gastrointestinal absorption is exstensively metabolised by the liver, primarily by cytochrome P450, but the mayor plasma metabolites are inactive, and less than 1% of the dose is excreted as unchanged drug in the urine and feces. We report two cases of quetiapine's non-fatal intoxication: Case 1: woman, 59 years old, admitted to Emergency after ingestion of 1,4 gr of quetiapine (Seroquel 25 mg, 56 tablets). Case 2: woman, 54 years old, admitted to Emergency after ingestion of an unknown quantity of quetiapine. In both cases the time elapsed between assumption and hospitalization was unknown and each patient has taken quetiapine for suicidal purposes. Blood, urine and gastric lavage were collected for each patient and sent to our laboratory. The collection continues until quetiapine's elimination from blood.