Subjective muscle weakness and hypotonia during clozapine treatment.
Four cases of patients who described an unpleasant subjective experience of weakness and reduced muscle tone during treatment with clozapine are presented. An exacerbation of muscular dystrophy during clozapine treatment is also described. It is hypothesized that these adverse effects are related to the muscle relaxant properties of clozapine. The differential diagnosis of sedation, fatigue, asthenia, and reduced muscle tone is discussed.
Galletly
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Department of Psychiatry, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine