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Clinical Management of Clozapine Patients in Relation to Efficacy and Side-Effects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

D. Naber ,
R. Holzbach ,
C. Perro  and
H. Hippius
D. Naber
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, Nussbaumstraße 7, D-8000 Munich 2, Germany
R. Holzbach
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, Nussbaumstraße 7, D-8000 Munich 2, Germany
C. Perro
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, Nussbaumstraße 7, D-8000 Munich 2, Germany
H. Hippius
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, Nussbaumstraße 7, D-8000 Munich 2, Germany
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Abstract

Medical charts of 480 schizophrenic in-patients (581 treatments) were analysed to evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of clozapine. Clozapine treatment lasted for mean 49 (s.d. 38) days. Of the sample, 11.0% showed worsening or no change, 31.5% slight improvement, 53.0% marked improvement and 4.5% almost total reduction of symptoms. At least one major side-effect occurred in 68.0% of patients. A combination of clozapine with classical neuroleptics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines or lithium is tolerated by most patients, but increases the incidence of some side-effects. Clozapine treatment had to be discontinued because of severe side-effects in 8.6% of patients. In 81 schizophrenic out-patients, clozapine significantly reduced the days of in-patient treatment and number of hospital readmissions. Two patients developed leucopenia but had no complications after clozapine withdrawal. This study indicates a satisfactory benefit/risk ratio and compliance in most of the patients.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 160 , Issue S17: Clozapine - The Atypical Antipsychotic , May 1992 , pp. 54 - 59
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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