Reason for Clozapine Discontinuation.
10.16946/kjsr.2016.19.1.17
- Author:
Jin Woo CHO
1
;
Won Hyoung KIM
;
Jun Hwan SHIN
;
Ji Hyun KIM
;
Jeong Seop LEE
;
Jae Nam BAE
;
Chul Eung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea. kce320@inha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Schizophrenia;
Clozapine;
Antipsychotics;
Treatment discontinuation;
Side-Effect
- MeSH:
Antipsychotic Agents;
Clozapine*;
Humans;
Prospective Studies;
Retrospective Studies;
Schizophrenia
- From:Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
2016;19(1):17-24
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: Approximately 30% of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia suffer from treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Clozapine is underutilized in the management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. To understand contributing factors, we analyzed the time course and causes of clozapine discontinuations that occurred over a 20-year period in a clinical setting. METHODS: The reasons for discontinuation and duration of clozapine treatment from a retrospective database of 138 patients with schizophrenia who had prescribed clozapine at least a month were reviewed, with the motives for discontinuation coded. The causes for termination were analyzed. RESULTS: Over two-thirds of the patient had ceased clozapine. The two most common causes for discontinuation were side-effects (50%), and own decision (30%). Somnolence accounted for 34% of all side-effects induced discontinuations. Hematological problems accounted for 23% of side-effect. The Maximal treatment dose of clozapine was higher in continuation group (442.36 mg) than in discontinuation group (397.26 mg). The CGI-S score when prescribing clozapine last was higher in discontinuation group than in continuous group. The patients who took atypical antipsychotics before clozapine tended to cease clozapine because of side-effects than who took typical agent. CONCLUSION: Future studies should seek various methods to relieve side-effects of clozapine. Prospective researches using more objective tools are needed to clarify the reason for clozapine discontinuation.
