Quetiapine (Seroquel)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Quetiapine

What it is

Quetiapine is an antipsychotic that blocks dopamine and serotonin receptors and, strongly, histamine receptors, which makes it sedating. It is used for schizophrenia, for mania and depression in bipolar disorder, and as an add-on in major depression. It is sold as Seroquel, among other names.

How genes come into it

Quetiapine is broken down mainly by the liver enzyme CYP3A4. The reduced-function variant CYP3A4*22, carried by about 5 to 8 in 100 people of European ancestry, raises quetiapine levels noticeably, and DPWG has published a guideline on CYP3A4 and quetiapine. Studies have also looked at CYP3A5, COMT and other genes for response and side effects such as weight gain, with weaker evidence.

Published guidelines

Clinical guidelines that name a gene for Quetiapine. They sort people into groups by the gene copies they carry.

DPWG guideline: CYP3A4. Normal Metabolizer · Intermediate Metabolizer · Poor Metabolizer. 2024.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Quetiapine. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (21 rated variants)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

CYP3A4 CYP3A4*1, CYP3A4*20, CYP3A4*22: Level 1A · replicated. Metabolism/PK. 3.

CYP3A5 rs776746: Level 3. Metabolism/PK. 4.

MC4R rs489693: Level 3. Toxicity: Hypertriglyceridemia, Schizoaffective disorder, Schizophrenia, Weight gain. 2.

FAAH rs324420: Level 3. Toxicity: Psychotic Disorder. 2.

Metabolism (17 findings)

Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.

CYP1A2 rs2069514: Genotype AA is associated with increased concentrations of quetiapine in healthy individuals as compared to genotype GG.

CYP3A4 CYP3A4*1, CYP3A4*22: CYP3A4 *1/*22 + *22/*22 is associated with increased concentrations of quetiapine in people with Psychotic Disorders as compared to CYP3A4 *1/*1.

CYP3A5 CYP3A5*1, CYP3A5*3: CYP3A5 *3/*3 is associated with decreased clearance of quetiapine in people with Bipolar Disorder as compared to CYP3A5 *1/*1 + *1/*3.

CYP3A5 CYP3A5*1, CYP3A5*3: CYP3A5 *3/*3 is associated with increased concentrations of quetiapine as compared to CYP3A5 *1/*1 + *1/*3.

Response (36 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

COMT rs4818: Allele C is associated with decreased response to quetiapine in people with Schizophrenia as compared to allele G.

COMT rs5993883: Allele T is associated with decreased response to quetiapine in people with Schizophrenia as compared to allele G.

COMT rs6269: Allele A is associated with decreased response to quetiapine in people with Schizophrenia as compared to allele G.

CYP3A43 rs680055: Genotype CG is associated with increased response to antipsychotics, aripiprazole, clozapine, haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine or risperidone in people with schizoaffective disorder or Schizophrenia as compared to genotype CC.

Dosing (1 finding)

Studies of how much of the drug people needed or tolerated.

CYP3A4 CYP3A4*1, CYP3A4*22: CYP3A4 *1/*22 + *22/*22 are not associated with dose of quetiapine in people with Psychotic Disorders as compared to CYP3A4 *1/*1.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

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Antipsychotics (class) (Antipsychotics)

Bromperidol (Antipsychotics)

Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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