Effect of treatment duration on plasma levels of clozapine and N-desmethylclozapine in men and women.
Plasma levels of clozapine and its major metabolites, N-desmethylclozapine and clozapine-N-oxide, were measured in 18 schizophrenic patients at different times (4, 6 and 24 weeks) during the course of treatment with multiple doses of the drug, by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. Plasma levels of clozapine and N-desmethylclozapine were significantly higher in females than in males after 4 and 6 weeks, but not after 24 weeks, of treatment. No sex difference was found at any time with respect to plasma levels of clozapine-N-oxide.
Fabrazzo
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples, Italy.
Esposito
G
G
Fusco
R
R
Maj
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003024:Clozapine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; C058272:norclozapine; D003024:Clozapine