The use of chloral hydrate and sodium amytal during clozapine initiation.
Sedative hypnotics are frequently a necessary adjunctive to neuroleptic treatment. The recently released antipsychotic agent clozapine poses a challenge in this regard since the manufacturer advises caution when using clozapine with patients receiving benzodiazepines. The effectiveness of alternate agents sodium amytal and chloral hydrate when initiating clozapine was evaluated in a group of 15 patients suffering from schizophrenia. These medications were observed to be both safe and effective.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Alberta.
R A
RA
Dickson
R
R
Williams
J T
JT
Dalby
D000328:Adult; D000654:Amobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002697:Chloral Hydrate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003024:Clozapine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D002697:Chloral Hydrate; D000654:Amobarbital; D003024:Clozapine