We report sexual symptoms in a 44 year old man with schizophrenia who was receiving treatment with the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine. The symptoms consisted of an increased drive to masturbate and spontaneous ejaculations at night time. We discuss the potential neuro-chemical mechanisms for this and argue that quetiapine’s unique pharmacological profile may have contributed to the development of his symptoms.
Aizenberg D , Zemishlany Z , Dorfman-Etrog P , Weizman A (1995) Sexual dysfunction in male schizophrenic patients . J Clin Psychiatry56(4): 137-141
2.
Aizenberg D , Modai I , Landa A , Gil-Ad I , Weizman, A (2001) Comparison of sexual dysfunction in male schizophrenic patients maintained on treatment with classical antipsychotics versus clozapine . J Clin Psychiatry62(7): 541-544
3.
Arnt J , Skarsfeldt T (1998) Do novel antipsychotics have similar pharmacological characteristics? A review of the evidence . Neuropsychopharmacology18(2): 63-101
4.
Atmaca M , Kuloglu M , Tezcan E (2005) A new atypical antipsychotic: quetiapine-induced sexual dysfunctions . Int J Impot Res17(2): 201-203
5.
Benelli A , Frigeri C , Bertolini A , Genedani S (2004) Influence of mirtazapine on the sexual behavior of male rats . Psychopharmacol171(3): 250-258
6.
Bobes J , Garc A P M P , Rejas J , Hern Ndez G , Garcia-Garcia M , Rico-Villademoros F , Porras A (2003) Frequency of sexual dysfunction and other reproductive side-effects in patients with schizophrenia treated with risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, or haloperidol: the results of the EIRE study . J Sex Marital Ther29(2): 125-147
7.
Caldwell H K , Albers H E (2002) The effects of serotonin agonists on the hypothalamic regulation of sexual receptivity in Syrian hamsters . Horm Behav42(1): 78-84
8.
Cutler A J (2003) Sexual dysfunction and antipsychotic treatment . Psychoneuroendocrinology28 (Suppl. 1): 69-82
9.
Finn S E , Bailey J M , Schultz R T , Faber R (1990) Subjective utility ratings of neuroleptics in treating schizophrenia . Psychol Med20(4): 843-848
10.
Goodwin G M (2003) Evidence-based guidelines for treating bipolar disorder: recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology . J Psychopharmacol17(2): 149-173 ; discussion 147
11.
Kishitake M , Yamanouchi K (2003) Effects of highly or relatively selective 5-HT1A receptor agonists on lordosis in female rats . Zoolog Sci20(9): 1133-1138
12.
Knegtering R , Castelein S , Bous H , Van Der Linde J , Bruggeman R , Kluiter H , van den Bosch R J (2004) A randomized open-label study of the impact of quetiapine versus risperidone on sexual functioning . J Clin Psychopharmacol24(1): 56-61
13.
Meltzer H Y , Goode D J , Schyve P M , Young M , Fang V S (1979) Effect of clozapine on human serum prolactin levels . Am J Psychiatry136(12): 1550-1555
14.
Meston C M , Moe I V , Gorzalka B B (1996) Effects of sympathetic inhibition on receptive, proceptive, and rejection behaviors in the female rat . Physiol Behav59(3): 537-542
15.
Nedergaard P , Sanchez C , Mellerup E (2004) Different roles of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in regulation of female rat paced mating behaviour . Behav Brain Res149(2): 151-157
16.
Popova N K , Amstislavskaya T G (2002) 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C serotonin receptors differentially modulate mouse sexual arousal and the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular response to the presence of a female . Neuroendocrinology76(1): 28-34
17.
Rudkin L , Taylor M J , Hawton K (2004) Strategies for managing sexual dysfunction induced by antidepressant medication . Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD003382
18.
Schotte A , Janssen P F , Gommeren W , Luyten W H , Van Gompel P , Lesage A S , De Loore K , Leysen J E (1996) Risperidone compared with new and reference antipsychotic drugs: in vitro and in vivo receptor binding . Psychopharmacol124(1-2): 57-73
19.
Small J G , Hirsch S R , Arvanitis L A , Miller B G , Link C G (1997) Quetiapine in patients with schizophrenia. A high- and low-dose double-blind comparison with placebo. Seroquel Study Group . Arch Gen Psychiatry54(6): 549-557
20.
Srisurapanont M , Maneeton B , Maneeton N (2004) Quetiapine for schizophrenia . Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD000967
21.
Stahl S (2000) Essential psychopharmacology: neuroscientific basis and practical applications. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge .
22.
Tollefson G D , Kuntz A J (1999) Review of recent clinical studies with olanzapine . Br J Psychiatry (Suppl 37): 30-35
23.
Tran P V , Hamilton S H , Kuntz A J , Potvin J H , Andersen S W , Beasley C Jr , Tollefson G D (1997) Double-blind comparison of olanzapine versus risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders . J Clin Psychopharmacol17(5): 407-418
24.
Wetzel H , Wiesner J , Hiemke C , Benkert O (1994) Acute antagonism of dopamine D2-like receptors by amisulpride: effects on hormone secretion in healthy volunteers . J Psychiatr Res28(5): 461-473
25.
Zhang X Y , Zhou D F , Cao L Y , Zhang P Y , Wu G Y , Shen Y C (2005) Prolactin levels in male schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone and haloperidol: a double-blind and randomized study . Psychopharmacol178(1): 35-40
26.
Zimbroff D L , Kane J M , Tamminga C A , Daniel D G , Mack R J , Wozniak P J , Sebree T B , Wallin B A and Kashkin K B (1997) Controlled, dose-response study of sertindole and haloperidol in the treatment of schizophrenia . Sertindole Study Group. Am J Psychiatry154(6): 782-791