Effect of Quetiapine on Memory

A few years ago my father suffered a very serious depressive episode which required hospitalization. In the months leading up to his admission he had become increasingly withdrawn, leaving the house less and less, hardly eating and sleeping almost all the time. His condition deteriorated in hospital - he became irrational, was fractious and suffered hallucinations. We truly believed that he would never recover.

After three weeks of little progress the doctors started him on Quetiapine, and the improvement was rapid and significant - he was once again calm and lucid, and was able to come home about ten days later.

Now - three years on - he is still taking the Quetiapine and we have noticed some significant changes. The most significant of these is that his short-term memory is seriously compromised - he will ask the same question multiple times and still not remember a) the answer; or b) that he has asked the question. He has also developed some obsessive behaviors (constantly checking that doors are locked, going to the toilet multiple times before leaving the house, etc).

I am concerned that the Quetiapine is the root-cause of these problems. Is there any clinical evidence to support this concern, or should we be considering other causes? Before becoming ill my father was an incredibly clever man and, although some aspects of this remain, the memory problems seem to be worsening. His doctor does not seem to be reviewing the need for this medication and I don't know whether it's appropriate to push for such a review.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I believe that you should get a consultation from two specialists...a neuropsychologist who can test your father re his memory and probably pinpoint the alternative explanations.  And a psychiatrist who is willing to reevaluate your father's condition...it is hard, but a good consult might be able to tease out the answer to your questions re drug effects, or breakthrough of underlying anxiety, or some organic changes in the brain.....no simple answer, but can be done.