title: Tolerability and efficacy of clozapine combined with lithium in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
abstract: The safety and tolerability of clozapine combined with lithium were investigated because of potential additive risks as well as frequent usage in clinical practice. Ten hospitalized schizophrenic and 10 schizoaffective patients receiving clozapine maintenance therapy with partial therapeutic response were studied in a randomized controlled trial. CGI and PANSS outcome ratings were employed and a cognitive battery was administered at baseline and after 4 weeks of lithium and placebo administration. Barnes and UKU side effect ratings and laboratory safety data were obtained. Combined lithium-clozapine treatment was well tolerated except for reversible neurotoxic reactions in two schizophrenic patients. Safety measures showed no significant variations, even during lithium toxicity. Total WBC and absolute granulocyte counts increased with lithium and declined with placebo. Schizoaffective patients improved with lithium on CGI and PANSS total and negative symptom scales and the cognitive measures, whereas schizophrenic patients did not. Lithium added to clozapine in treatment regimens for hospitalized, treatment-resistant, schizoaffective patients appears to afford potential benefit without harmful effects; for schizophrenic patients, however, it did not afford improvement but posed a risk of lithium toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Larue D. Carter Memorial Hospital, 2601 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis, IN 46222-2202, USA. jsmall2@fssa.state.in.us
authors.forename: Joyce G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Marietta H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Klapper
authors.forename: Frederick W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Steadman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018021:Lithium Chloride; D003024:Clozapine