Clozapine. A review of its pharmacological properties, and therapeutic use in schizophrenia.

摘要: Clozapine, an antipsychotic agent of the dibenzodiazepine class, is characterised by relatively weak central dopaminergic activity and displays atypical pharmacological clinical properties in relation to classic antipsychotics. Clinical studies have shown clozapine be effective suppressing both positive negative symptoms schizophrenia associated with extremely low incidence extrapyramidal side effects. Clozapine has been comparable, or on some criteria superior, therapeutic efficacy perphenazine, levomepromazine, haloperidol chlorpromazine several short term comparative patients predominantly acute symptomatology. Moreover, a substantial proportion (30 50%) schizophrenic who are refractory intolerant therapy. Despite its promising potential, high clozapine-induced agranulocytosis (1 2% patients) major factor restricting drug's wider use psychiatric practice. In accordance current guidelines, therapy, performed conjunction close haematological monitoring, indicated for management severe chronic those unable tolerate such appropriately selected patients, represents important alternative