Clozapine for schizophrenia
Article Abstract:
Schizophrenia is a mental disturbance of unknown cause that is characterized by disordered thinking, affect, and behavior. The antipsychotic agent clozapine, produced as Clozaril, was recently approved for treating schizophrenia in patients who do not respond to or do not tolerate standard antipsychotic medications. Like other antipsychotic agents clozapine prevents the actions of the natural substance dopamine but, compared with other drugs, clozapine causes less increase in blood levels of the hormone prolactin and has fewer effects on movements controlled by the pyramidal tracts of the central nervous system. Clozapine also prevents the actions of other neurotransmitter substances similar to dopamine which are involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. This antipsychotic agent is absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, reaches its highest levels in the blood within three hours, and is broken down and excreted in the urine and feces. Studies have indicated that in treating schizophrenia clozapine is equally or more effective than chlorpromazine, another antipsychotic agent. Adverse effects of clozapine include agranulocytosis or a decrease in white blood cells, seizures, sedation, rapid heart rate, increase in body temperature, drop in blood pressure, and excessive salivation. The dosage, availability, and cost of the drug are described. Clozapine is more effective and causes fewer movement disorders than previous agents used for treating schizophrenia, but may cause agranulocytosis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0025-732X
Year: 1990
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Update on clozapine
Article Abstract:
Further studies on the drug clozapine (Clozaril) indicate it may be useful in treating patients with schizophrenia who do not respond to or cannot tolerate standard antipsychotic drugs. Clozapine was given limited approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1990 because it was toxic in some patients. Of 126 patients with schizophrenia who were resistant to other drugs, 38 (30%) improved after taking clozapine. Only five of 141 patients with drug-resistant schizophrenia responded to chlorpromazine. In other trials, between 40% and 60% of patients with drug-resistant schizophrenia responded to clozapine. Of the approximately 40,000 patients who had taken clozapine through Oct, 1992, 171 developed agranulocytosis, which is a drop in the number of certain white blood cells. Seven of the patients with agranulocytosis died. Side effects associated with clozapine include drowsiness and excess saliva flow.
Publication Name: Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0025-732X
Year: 1993
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Olanzapine for schizophrenia
Article Abstract:
The new drug olanzapine (Zyprexa) may be as effective as other drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychoses. Short-term therapy with olanzapine was similar to the effects of haloperidol and risperidone without major extrapyramidal effects. The long-term impact of olanzapine or its therapeutic equivalency to other antipsychotics remain to be established. Minor drug reactions of olanzapine include weight gain, constipation, and dizziness. The recommended dose is five to 10 milligrams daily.
Publication Name: Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0025-732X
Year: 1997
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