BACKGROUND: The extent to which atypical antipsychotics have a lower incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms than typical antipsychotics has not been well-evaluated in community practice. AIMS: To examine the effects of switching antipsychotics on antiparkinsonian medication use among individuals with schizophrenia in UK general practices. METHOD: We included those switched from typical to atypical antipsychotics (n=209) or from one typical antipsychotic to another (n=261) from 1994 to 1998. RESULTS: Antiparkinsonian drug prescribing dropped by 9.2% after switching to atypical antipsychotics (P<0.0001). Switching to olanzapine decreased the rate by 19.2% (P<0.0001), but switching to risperidone had no impact. After switching from one typical antipsychotic to another, antiparkinsonian drug prescribing increased by 12.9% (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in antiparkinsonian medication use after switching to atypical antipsychotics was substantial in community practice but not as large as in randomised controlled trials. The rate of reduction varied according to the type of medication.
BACKGROUND: The extent to which atypical antipsychotics have a lower incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms than typical antipsychotics has not been well-evaluated in community practice. AIMS: To examine the effects of switching antipsychotics on antiparkinsonian medication use among individuals with schizophrenia in UK general practices. METHOD: We included those switched from typical to atypical antipsychotics (n=209) or from one typical antipsychotic to another (n=261) from 1994 to 1998. RESULTS: Antiparkinsonian drug prescribing dropped by 9.2% after switching to atypical antipsychotics (P<0.0001). Switching to olanzapine decreased the rate by 19.2% (P<0.0001), but switching to risperidone had no impact. After switching from one typical antipsychotic to another, antiparkinsonian drug prescribing increased by 12.9% (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in antiparkinsonian medication use after switching to atypical antipsychotics was substantial in community practice but not as large as in randomised controlled trials. The rate of reduction varied according to the type of medication.
Authors: Robert W Buchanan; Julie Kreyenbuhl; Deanna L Kelly; Jason M Noel; Douglas L Boggs; Bernard A Fischer; Seth Himelhoch; Beverly Fang; Eunice Peterson; Patrick R Aquino; William Keller Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2009-12-02 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Allen W Nyhuis; Douglas E Faries; Haya Ascher-Svanum; Virginia L Stauffer; Bruce J Kinon Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2010-09-28 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Douglas Faries; Haya Ascher-Svanum; Glenn Phillips; Allen W Nyhuis; Tomoko Sugihara; Virginia Stauffer; Bruce J Kinon Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2012-09-13 Impact factor: 4.615