Different side effect profiles of risperidone and clozapine in 20 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the side effect +profiles of clozapine and risperidone.


METHODS
The subjects were 20 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were clinically stable on a regimen of clozapine at the time of screening. They underwent a randomized-order crossover comparison of 6 weeks of risperidone treatment and 6 weeks of clozapine treatment. Clinical and neurocognitive variables were assessed by raters blind to medication status, and severity of side effects was determined from patients' self-reports.


RESULTS
Side effect measures, but not clinical ratings, were significantly different after 6 weeks of treatment with the two drugs. Patients required more benztropine for motor effects and complained of more insomnia with risperidone and more sedation with clozapine. Body weight was higher at the end of clozapine treatment than at the end of risperidone treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
In this exploratory study, the side effect profiles of clozapine and risperidone were consistent with the different pharmacodynamic profiles of the two drugs.
Daniel
D G
DG
Washington Clinical Research Center, Falls Church, VA 22044, USA.
Goldberg
T E
TE
Weinberger
D R
DR
Kleinman
J E
JE
Pickar
D
D
Lubick
L J
LJ
Williams
T S
TS
D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003024:Clozapine; D018967:Risperidone