BACKGROUND: Clozapine was the first atypical 'broad spectrum' antipsychotic drug to be marketed and the first agent approved for the treatment of schizophrenia refractory to other medications. It is also effective for the treatment of aggressive behaviour in schizophrenic and demented patients and in the management of psychosis and aggression in Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to study the safety of clozapine for use in elderly patients. METHODS: An extensive Medline search was made. Some studies that were referenced in reports from our pharmacovigilance centre and from regulatory agencies such as the FDA, EMEA and WHO were included. CONCLUSIONS: Clozapine treatment in the elderly requires a careful geriatric assessment. However, its use is strongly limited by the possibility of onset of severe adverse effects such as potentially fatal agranulocytosis, myocarditis and others such as seizures, weight gain and metabolic adverse effects.
BACKGROUND:Clozapine was the first atypical 'broad spectrum' antipsychotic drug to be marketed and the first agent approved for the treatment of schizophrenia refractory to other medications. It is also effective for the treatment of aggressive behaviour in schizophrenic and demented patients and in the management of psychosis and aggression in Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to study the safety of clozapine for use in elderly patients. METHODS: An extensive Medline search was made. Some studies that were referenced in reports from our pharmacovigilance centre and from regulatory agencies such as the FDA, EMEA and WHO were included. CONCLUSIONS:Clozapine treatment in the elderly requires a careful geriatric assessment. However, its use is strongly limited by the possibility of onset of severe adverse effects such as potentially fatal agranulocytosis, myocarditis and others such as seizures, weight gain and metabolic adverse effects.
Authors: Domenico De Berardis; Gabriella Rapini; Luigi Olivieri; Domenico Di Nicola; Carmine Tomasetti; Alessandro Valchera; Michele Fornaro; Fabio Di Fabio; Giampaolo Perna; Marco Di Nicola; Gianluca Serafini; Alessandro Carano; Maurizio Pompili; Federica Vellante; Laura Orsolini; Giovanni Martinotti; Massimo Di Giannantonio Journal: Ther Adv Drug Saf Date: 2018-02-06
Authors: Deanna L Kelly; Robert P McMahon; Fang Liu; Raymond C Love; Heidi J Wehring; Joo-Cheol Shim; Kimberly R Warren; Robert R Conley Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2010-01-12 Impact factor: 4.384