Small molecule
PubChem CID 5002
Quetiapine
Seroquel
- Mechanism of action
- Atypical antipsychotic (D2 / 5-HT2A antagonist)
- In plain language
- Calms overactive signaling in the brain by blocking dopamine and serotonin receptors, which helps ease symptoms like hallucinations, mood swings, and racing thoughts.
- How it works
- Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic whose therapeutic effect is thought to derive from combined antagonism of central dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Its active metabolite, norquetiapine, contributes additional pharmacologic activity, including moderate-to-high affinity for muscarinic receptor subtypes. The drug also exhibits alpha1-adrenergic receptor antagonism, underlying its association with orthostatic hypotension, and antihistaminergic activity that contributes to sedation. The precise mechanism by which these receptor interactions produce antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing effects is not fully established.
- Therapeutic applications
- FDA-approved for schizophrenia in adults and adolescents; for acute treatment of manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder, as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy, in adults and pediatric patients; for acute treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder in adults; and for maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder as an adjunct to lithium or divalproex in adults.
- Class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- CNS / Psychiatric
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