Clozapine treatment of schizophrenia
Article Abstract:
Clozapine may be used to treat successfully the symptoms of schizophrenia in patients who have not responded well to standard antipsychotic drugs. Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug. Schizophrenia is a mental disease characterized by disorder of thought and deterioration of functioning. Up to 40% of schizophrenic patients do not respond to commonly-used antipsychotic drugs. Many of these patients respond to clozapine. A serious side effect of clozapine is agranulocytosis, which is a decrease in the number of granulocytes. The drug should be restricted to schizophrenic patients who have not improved with standard antipsychotic drugs and their blood counts should be monitored on a regular basis.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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Pharmacologic advances in the treatment of schizophrenia
Article Abstract:
Drugs are being developed that will hopefully be effective in treating schizophrenia without causing severe side effects. One of these drugs is clozapine, which seems to affect the serotonin receptor as well as dopamine receptors. Most of the older antipsychotic drugs affect the dopamine D2 receptor, but their side effects are so severe many patients stop taking them. A 1997 study found that clozapine was as effective or more so than haloperidol with fewer side effects. Even though clozapine is more expensive than haloperidol, it resulted in fewer hospitalizations.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1997
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Effectiveness and cost of olanzapine and haloperidol in the treatment of schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
Article Abstract:
Olanzapine may not be more effective than haloperidol for treating schizophrenia, according to a study of 309 patients. Although it may improve some symptoms, it is more expensive than haloperidol and can cause weight gain. Olanzapine belongs to a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 2003
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