What is a potential side effect of the antipsychotic medication quetiapine?

Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic, is known to have several side effects, one of which includes hypotension, particularly orthostatic hypotension. This occurs when a person experiences a significant drop in blood pressure upon standing up, which can lead to dizziness or fainting. The mechanism behind this side effect involves quetiapine's antagonistic action on certain adrenergic receptors, which can disrupt normal blood pressure regulation.

This side effect is particularly important for nurses and healthcare providers to monitor, especially during the initiation of treatment or after dose adjustments. The likelihood of developing hypotension may also increase when quetiapine is used in combination with other medications that lower blood pressure or depress the central nervous system. Understanding this side effect helps healthcare professionals to ensure patient safety and provide appropriate education regarding the signs and symptoms to watch for.

In contrast, while weight loss, insomnia, and bradycardia can also occasionally occur, they are not as closely associated with the use of quetiapine as hypotension. Weight gain is often more common, and while insomnia is a potential side effect of many medications, quetiapine is sometimes used to aid sleep due to its sedative properties. Bradycardia may occur