Strengths:

Proven acute antimanic effect

• In a study with bipolar patients in a manic episode, quetiapine-treated patients improved and responded to treatment significantly more than placebo-treated patients. [ICG Guidelines]
• Following remission of an initial episode of mania, patients should be withdrawn from their benzodiazepine or antipsychotic once the acute episode has resolved. [Australian Guidelines]

Weaknesses

Data on maintenance are limited

• Following remission of an initial episode of mania, patients should be withdrawn from their benzodiazepine or antipsychotic once the acute episode has resolved.[Australian Guidelines]