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KMID : 1177320190220010002
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Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
2019 Volume.22 No. 1 p.2 ~ p.7
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Prescribing Pattern of Clozapine and Clinical Factors associated with Discontinuation of Clozapine
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Kang Shi-Hyun
Lee Hey-Won
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Abstract
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Objectives: Clozapine is the drug of choice in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. However, its use is often delayed and a significant proportion of clozapine treated patients fails to respond and experience potentially dangerous side-effects. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the clinical characteristics of patients started on clozapine and the rate and reason of discontinuation of clozapine.
Methods: Medical records of 83 patients started on clozapine during the period of 2012-2016 were reviewed.
Results: Clozapine started on patients in chronic phase; the mean age of start was 38.1 years old and the mean number of psychiatric admission was 6.5. A majority (80.7%) of the patients had been subjected to antipsychotic polypharmacy prior to clozapine and most (61.5%) of them were being treated with polypharmacy including clozapine. Overall, 39 (47.0%) subjects had continued clozapine whereas 15 (18.1%) discontinued it; 29 (34.9%) were lost to follow-up. The most common reason for discontinuation was side-effects (n=13) including six life-threatening cases, most of which occurred within 6 months of its start.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there is some evidence of delays to clozapine use, high rates of polypharmacy and significant rate of discontinuation during the early phase of clozapine treatment.
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KEYWORD
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Clozapine, Antipsychotics, Prescribing pattern, Discontinuation, Side effect
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