Silent Danger of Quetiapine Overdose Leading to Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report

Quetiapine Overdose
Vol. 20 No. 2 : 2025 (845-848)

Chuang Jia Yun Chuang Jia Yun
Mohd Sharifuddin Che Omar Mohd Sharifuddin Che Omar

Abstract
Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic, has various side effects, including the rare but severe complication of rhabdomyolysis. This report detailed a 32-year-old female with persistent depressive disorder (PDD) and major depressive episodes (MDE), who presented to the Emergency Department after a parasuicidal attempt involving an overdose of 8 mg of clonazepam and 4800 mg of quetiapine. She exhibited symptoms of dizziness, nausea and transient loss of consciousness, along with mild tachycardia, elevated urea and creatinine levels from her baseline. During hospitalisation, she complained of generalised body aches, especially in the lower limbs, and her creatine kinase (CK) level peaked at 10,691 IU/L. Intravenous fluid therapy led to a reduction in CK levels and normalisation of renal function, allowing for a stable discharge and psychiatric clinic follow-up. Quetiapine’s antagonism of serotonin receptors, particularly 5-HT2A, may alter muscle cell membrane permeability, contributing to elevated CK levels. Even at therapeutic doses up to 800 mg/day, quetiapine can elevate CK levels, yet routine CK testing is not standard, which can delay the diagnosis of quetiapine-induced rhabdomyolysis. This case underscores the necessity for vigilant monitoring and advocates for incorporating CK testing in the routine evaluation of quetiapine overdose, even without significant symptoms, to prevent severe complications of rhabdomyolysis.
Keywords : Creatinine kinase; overdose; quetiapine; rhabdomyolysis,
Abstrak
Quetiapine merupakan sejenis antipsikotik atipikal yang mempunyai pelbagai jenis kesan sampingan, termasuk komplikasi yang jarang tetapi serius seperti rhabdomiolisis. Laporan ini membincangkan seorang wanita berusia 32 tahun yang mempunyai masalah kemurungan dan telah mendapatkan rawatan di Jabatan Kecemasan selepas cubaan membunuh diri dengan pengambilan dos ubat berlebihan iaitu 8 mg clonazepam dan 4800 mg quetiapine. Beliau mengalami simptom pening, mual, pengsan, denyutan jantung laju serta peningkatan tahap urea dan kreatinin berbanding bacaan asalnya. Semasa di hospital, beliau mengadu sakit seluruh badan, terutamanya pada anggota bawah dan aras kreatin kinase (CK) beliau meningkat kepada 10,691 IU/L. Terapi cecair intravena berjaya menurunkan tahap CK dan fungsi ginjal kembali turun ke bacaan asal. Beliau dibenarkan keluar dari hospital dalam keadaan yang stabil dan disarankan untuk mengikuti temujanji susulan di klinik psikiatri. Antagonisma quetiapine pada reseptor serotonin, terutamanya 5-HT2A, boleh mengubah kebolehtelapan membran sel otot, menyumbang kepada peningkatan tahap CK. Walaupun pada dos terapeutik iaitu 800 mg/hari, quetiapine boleh meningkatkan tahap CK, namun disebabkan ujian CK tidak dibuat secara rutin untuk semua pesakit yang datang ke Jabatan Kecemasan, diagnosis rhabdomiolisis menjadi lewat. Kes ini menekankan keperluan untuk pemantauan yang teliti dan mengesyorkan penggabungan ujian CK dalam penilaian rutin dos berlebihan quetiapine, walaupun tanpa gejala yang ketara untuk mencegah komplikasi serius rhabdomiolisis.
Kata Kunci : Kreatinin kinase; quetiapine; rhabdomiolisis; terlebih dos,

Correspondance Address
Mohd Sharifuddin Che Omar. Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +603-91455491 Email: dr.sharif.hctm@ukm.edu.my