2 research outputs found
Two cases of priapism associated with Quetiapine
Priapism is a painful, prolonged erection that occurs without any sexual
stimulation. It is an emergency that may lead impotence, urinary
retention, and gangrene as long-term devastating consequences. Priapism
is attributed to the blockage of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors in the
corpus cavernosum and associated with the use of typical antipsychotics,
notably, thioridazine. Atypical antipsychotics are increasingly being
prescribed and not frequently considered to cause priapism. This side
effect has been reported in patients taking ziprasidone, risperidone,
clozapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole and olanzapine. The intensity of
binding to alpha-1 adrenergic receptors varies among all antipsychotics;
quetiapine has an intermediate affinity. Priapism may be an
idiosyncratic reaction which is correlated neither with the dosage nor
the duration of use of antipsychotic drug. Quetiapine has been
implicated in causing priapism in a limited number of reports. A history
of prolonged erections may be a possible predictor of priapism during
the use of quetiapine. We report two cases of priapism associated with
quetiapine and a brief review