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Quetiapine fumarate (trade name SeroquelTM) is an atypical antipsychotic drug which has become more commonly prescribed in Australia for certain mental health conditions in the last decade (Heilbronn, Lloyd, McElwee, Eade & Lubman, 2012). The Therapeutic Goods Association of Australia (TGA) originally approved quetiapine for use in the treatment of schizophrenia in 2000 (TGA, 2010). Subsequent reviews of the drug by the TGA in 2007 and 2009 have resulted in it also being approved for treatment of bipolar disorder (TGA, 2010). More recently, in 2010, it was approved for use as a second-line treatment (ie where other treatments have proven ineffective or inappropriate) for generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder (TGA, 2010). Potentially serious side effects of quetiapine include QTc interval prolongation (a cardiac effect which can result in sudden death), weight gain and ex-pyramidal symptoms (movement disorders)(Alexander, Gallagher, Mascola, Moloney & Stafford, 2011; Maher, Maglione, Bagley, Suttorp, Hu, Ewing, et al., 2011; TGA, 2010).

While quetiapine is approved for use in particular disorders, it may also be prescribed ‘off-label’(unlicensed). In the European Union and the USA, licensing has restricted quetiapine use to a narrower range of disorders than those approved in Australia, however off-label prescription has become increasingly prevalent in those jurisdictions (Kuehn, 2009; New Drugs Online Report, 2011).