Quetiapine Dosing

Quetiapine dosing guidelines that healthcare providers follow when prescribing the drug take into account the condition being treated, its severity, and if other medical conditions are present. In most cases, when treating schizophrenia, the starting dose is 25 mg. For bipolar disorder, quetiapine dosing guidelines call for a starting dose of 50 mg. If needed, your healthcare provider will quickly increase this dose to 300 or 400 mg.

 

An Introduction to Quetiapine Dosing

The dose of quetiapine fumarate (Seroquel®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The medical condition being treated
  • The severity of your condition
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As always, do not adjust your quetiapine dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Quetiapine Dosage for Schizophrenia

The recommended starting dose of quetiapine for schizophrenia is 25 mg, taken twice a day. Generally, your healthcare provider will increase your dose quickly within a few days, up to 400 mg (taken in two or three smaller doses per day), if needed.
 

Quetiapine Dosage for Bipolar Disorder

The dose of quetiapine for bipolar disorder varies, depending on the particular type of bipolar disorder. The recommended starting dose of quetiapine for bipolar depression is 50 mg, taken once daily at bedtime. Your healthcare provider will generally increase your dose quickly within a few days, up to quetiapine 300 mg, taken once daily at bedtime.
 
For bipolar mania, the recommended starting dose of quetiapine is 50 mg, taken twice a day. In general, your healthcare provider will increase your dose quickly within a few days, if needed, up to quetiapine 400 mg twice daily.
 
Quetiapine is also approved for maintenance (ongoing) treatment of bipolar disorder (to help prevent or reduce symptoms or relapses), when used in combination with lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®) or divalproex (Depakote® Depakote® ER), For this use, a quetiapine dose of 400 to 800 mg per day (split into two smaller doses per day) is recommended.
 
(Quetiapine Dosing Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;