title: Adverse effects of zotepine and their relationship to serum concentrations of the drug and prolactin.
abstract: Adverse effects of zotepine, an antipsychotic drug, and their relationship to serum concentrations of the drug and prolactin were investigated in 28 schizophrenic in-patients. The daily dose was 100 mg during the first week and 200 mg during the next 3 weeks. Adverse effects were evaluated by the UKU Side Effect Rating Scale (21 items). The mean (+/- SD) total UKU score at the end of the study was 3.1 +/- 2.5, indicating mild adverse effects. The scores of psychic adverse effects at 2 weeks and total adverse effects at 3 and 4 weeks were significantly higher in nonresponders than in responders (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant inverse correlation between percent improvement in total Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores and total UKU scores at 4 weeks (p < 0.05). These results suggest a relationship between poor clinical response and increased adverse effects during zotepine treatment. Only the scores of akathisia at 2 weeks showed a significantly positive correlation with serum zotepine concentrations (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between prolactin response and neurological adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukushima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D003988:Dibenzothiepins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003988:Dibenzothiepins; D011388:Prolactin; C022172:zotepine