Autonomic Nervous System Related Adverse Effects Developed during Clozapine Treatment.
- Author:
Sun Ju CHUNG
1
;
Yong Min AHN
;
Ung Gu KANG
;
Young Jin KOO
;
Jee Hyun HA
;
Sun Wook KIM
;
Yong Sik KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Gil Medical Center, Gachon Medical School, Incheon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Adverse effects;
Autonomic nervous system;
Clozapine
- MeSH:
Autonomic Nervous System*;
Clozapine*;
Constipation;
Diarrhea;
Enuresis;
Humans;
Hypotension, Orthostatic;
Medical Records;
Mouth;
Nausea;
Prevalence;
Schizophrenia;
Seoul;
Sialorrhea;
Tachycardia;
Urinary Retention;
Vomiting
- From:Korean Journal of Psychopharmacology
2000;11(2):168-177
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence and course of autonomic nervous system related adverse effects (ARAEs) reported in patients treated with clozapine. METHOD: Ninety-one patients treated with clozapine were recruited from the Seoul National University Hospital Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Clinic. Medical records were reviewed for the prevalence and course of 14 ARAEs related to clozapine treatment. ARAEs with the prevalence greater than 10 % were selected and analyzed for their relationship with the demographic variables of the subjects and for the distribution of the duration of treatment and daily dosage of clozapine. RESULTS: Eighty-one(97.8%) patients experienced at least one ARAE during treatment with clozapine. The most frequent ARAE was hypersalivation, followed by constipation, tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, nausea, diaphoresis, frequency, enuresis, vomiting, blurred vision, dry mouth, diarrhea, incontinence and urinary retention. None of the 7 selected frequent ARAEs had significant relationship with the age or sex of the subjects. Most of them developed within 8 weeks of clozapine treatment and at the dose of clozapine under 200mg/day. Among the total 248 events of ARAEs, 35 events required additional medications to alleviate the symptoms, 8 required other medical interventions, and 3 required reduction of clozapine dose. There was no case which necessitated withdrawal of clozapine therapy. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggest that almost all patients treated with clozapine experienced one or more ARAEs. Most of them occurred during the initial phase of treatment and managed without further medical treatment.
