Journal of International Psychiatry

Quetiapine is an effective atypical antipsychotic, which is commonly used in clinical practice for treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, and the side effect is less. Edema is extremely rare compared with the common side effects of quetiapine such as sleepiness, faintness, rapid heartbeat, weight gain, orthostatic hypotension and so on. To our knowledge, nervous system impair and induced epilepsy are the most common reports of quetiapine-induced rare side effects. However, so far the report of quetiapine-induced lower legs edema in schizophrenia patient is lacking in the domestic. Therefore, drug induced lower legs edema is easily to be neglected in clinical practice. Early recognition and intervention, which is of great significance to protect severe adverse events, should be highly emphasized by clinicians.

Quetiapine; Lower legs edema; Side effect