Dosage patterns of antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia in Swedish ambulatory clinical practice--a highly individualized therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the dosage pattern of antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia in ambulatory care in Sweden.


METHODS
The study was based on a nationwide consecutive weekly random sample of physicians during the period 1991-98 comprising 265,331 visits.


RESULTS
In 515 visits (0.19%), antipsychotics were prescribed for schizophrenia. More than one antipsychotic (50 different combinations) was prescribed in 20% of the visits. Patients received higher total daily doses when prescribed more than one antipsychotic drug; mean dose in monotherapy was 210.7 chlorpromazine equivalents (CPZeq) and in polytherapy 406.8 CPZeq.


CONCLUSIONS
Antipsychotics, in contrast to current recommendations, were prescribed as highly individualized therapies in a wide variety of doses and with a high frequency of polypharmacy. The combinations used are often unsuitable and may lead to unnecessary adverse effects.
Bingefors
Kerstin
K
Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre, Sweden. Chris.Bingefors@farmaci.uu.se
Isacson
Dag
D
Lindström
Eva
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019338:Polypharmacy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013548:Sweden
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents