Quetiapine Extended-release Tablet while Breastfeeding

Modern medicine has evolved so much so that sooner or later every breastfeeding mother needs to take it in one form or other. Medication that is present in mothers blood will transfer into her breast milk to some extent. Most drugs do so at low levels and pose no real risk to infants but then there are some exceptions. In This post will discuss whether Quetiapine Extended-release Tablet is safe in breast-feeding or not.

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of: Schizophrenia (1.1) Bipolar I disorder, manic or mixed episodes (1.2) Bipolar disorder, depressive episodes (1.2) Major depressive disorder, adjunctive therapy with antidepressants (1.3) 1.1 Schizophrenia Quetiapine extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia. The efficacy of quetiapine extended-release tablets in schizophrenia was established in one 6-week and one maintenance trial in adults with schizophrenia. Efficacy was supported by three 6-week trials in adults with schizophrenia and one 6-week trial in adolescents with schizophrenia (13 to 17 years) treated with quetiapine immediate-release tablets [ see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. 1.2 Bipolar Disorder Quetiapine extended-release tablets are indicated for the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder, both as monotherapy and as an adjunct to lithium or divalproex. The efficacy of quetiapine extended-release tablets in manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder was established in one 3-week trial in adults with manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder. Efficacy was supported by two 12-week monotherapy trials and one 3-week adjunctive trial in adults with manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder as well as one 3-week monotherapy trial in children and adolescents (10 to 17 years) with manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder treated with quetiapine immediate-release tablets [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. Quetiapine extended-release tablets are indicated for the acute treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. The efficacy of quetiapine extended-release tablets was established in one 8-week trial in adults with bipolar I or II disorder and supported by two 8­-week trials in adults with bipolar I or II disorder treated with quetiapine immediate-release tablets [ see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. Quetiapine extended-release tablets are indicated for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder, as an adjunct to lithium or divalproex. Efficacy was extrapolated from two maintenance trials in adults with bipolar I disorder treated with quetiapine immediate-release tablets. The effectiveness of monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder has not been systematically evaluated in controlled clinical trials [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. 1.3 Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Quetiapine extended-release tablets are indicated for use as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for the treatment of MDD. The efficacy of quetiapine extended-release tablets as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants in MDD was established in two 6-week trials in adults with MDD who had an inadequate response to antidepressant treatment [see Clinical Studies (14.3)]. 1.4 Special Considerations in Treating Pediatric Schizophrenia and Bipolar I Disorder Pediatric schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder are serious mental disorders, however, diagnosis can be challenging. For pediatric schizophrenia, symptom profiles can be variable, and for bipolar I disorder, patients may have variable patterns of periodicity of manic or mixed symptoms. It is recommended that medication therapy for pediatric schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder be initiated only after a thorough diagnostic evaluation has been performed and careful consideration given to the risks associated with medication treatment. Medication treatment for both pediatric schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder is indicated as part of a total treatment program that often includes psychological, educational and social interventions.

Statement of Manufacturer/Labeler about breastfeeding usage
8.3 Nursing Mothers Quetiapine fumarate was excreted into human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from quetiapine extended-release, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother’s health. In published case reports, the level of quetiapine in breast milk ranged from undetectable to 170 mcg/L. The estimated infant dose ranged from 0.09% to 0.43% of the weight-adjusted maternal dose. Based on a limited number (N=8) of mother/infant pairs, calculated infant daily doses range from less than 0.01 mg/kg (at a maternal daily dose up to 100 mg quetiapine) to 0.1 mg/kg (at a maternal daily dose of 400 mg).