Clozapine: an atypical neuroleptic.

Since it was synthesized in 1960, much has been written about clozapine. Although a number of its properties are those of a neuroleptic, it displays marked differences from classical antipsychotics to the extent that it is currently listed as an atypical neuroleptic. A classical neuroleptic has been defined in man according to its antipsychotic properties, accompanied by extrapyramidal effects, and in animals according to its cataleptic properties, its ability to antagonize apomorphine and amphetamine stereotypies and to suppress the conditioned avoidance response. Moreover, the classical neuroleptic exerted depressive and anhedonic effects in most conditioning schedules. With clozapine, most of these properties are no longer strictly in force to the point that they call in question the validity of the tests carried out to detect the potential of neuroleptics. This article attempts to compare the characteristics of clozapine with those of classical neuroleptics from a toxicological, neuropharmacological, psychopharmacological and clinical point of view.