Drug Comparison

For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.

Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.

How to read this tool
Rating scale
Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: greenblueyelloworangered. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
  Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Quetiapine(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Quetiapine
Seroquel
Second-Generation Antipsychotic
FDA-approved indications
  • Schizophrenia (adults; adolescents 13–17 years)
  • Acute mania in Bipolar I — mono or adjunct to lithium/divalproex
  • Bipolar depression (adults)
  • Bipolar I maintenance — adjunct to lithium/divalproex (adults)
Off-label uses
  • Insomnia
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • PTSD
Half-life~7 hours (norquetiapine active metabolite: ~12 hours)
Next:Taper Quetiapine
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Quetiapine
Consider when
  • Bipolar depression — only SGA FDA-approved as monotherapy for bipolar I and II depression (not just mania)
  • Motor-sensitive patient or EPS history — lowest EPS risk among SGAs (akathisia RR 1.01, antiparkinson OR 0.94)
  • Parkinson disease or Lewy body dementia psychosis — lowest EPS makes it preferred SGA in movement disorder populations
  • Sedation is therapeutically beneficial — dose-stratified H1 blockade; low-dose XR useful for insomnia/anxiety augmentation
  • +1 more
Consider an alternative when
  • Driving, machinery, or high-attention occupation — significant next-day somnolence impairs psychomotor performance
  • History of cataracts or active eye disease — quetiapine-distinctive FDA-labeled cataract warning; periodic slit-lamp exams recommended
  • Cardiometabolic risk — second-tier weight gain (~2–3 kg short-term); metabolic monitoring required
  • Substance use disorder with sedative misuse pattern — documented quetiapine misuse for sedation/euphoria in SUD populations
  • +1 more
Axis
Quetiapine
SGA
Boxed Warnings
Suicidality (boxed warning)
Agranulocytosis / severe neutropenia
Cerebrovascular events (elderly w/ dementia)
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
CNS
Sedation / somnolence
Activation / insomnia
Akathisia / EPS
Tardive dyskinesia
Seizure risk
Metabolic
Weight gain
Metabolic (glucose / lipids)
Endocrine
Prolactin elevation
Autonomic
Anticholinergic burden
Orthostatic hypotension
Sensory
Visual disturbances (blurred vision, diplopia, lens changes)
Cardiac
QTc prolongation
GI
Nausea / GI (general)
Hepatic
Liver enzymes / hepatotoxicity
Sexual
Sexual dysfunction
Interactions
CYP interactions / DDI profile

Safety: Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote. Click any cell to audit. Stubs are disabled until calibrated. This tool surfaces published evidence — it does not replace clinical judgment.