Less medication switching after initial start with atypical antipsychotics.
We investigated the extent and time of switching to another oral antipsychotic in newly admitted in-patients that started oral antipsychotic therapy. In a retrospective follow-up study of 522 newly admitted patients who started with an oral antipsychotic, we applied a case-control analysis considering patients switching to another oral antipsychotics as cases. Association between patient characteristics and switching antipsychotic medication was evaluated using logistic regression analysis. A Kaplan-Meier plot was performed to analyse time to switch. Patients initially treated with an oral typical antipsychotic showed a twofold increased risk to switch to another antipsychotic compared to patients treated with an oral atypical antipsychotic (adjusted OR=1.79 95% CI=1.15-2.78). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients started with a typical antipsychotic switched sooner compared to patients on atypical antipsychotics. Atypical antipsychotics are less frequently associated with switching in comparison with typical antipsychotics suggesting overall better treatment satisfaction.
Hugenholtz
Gerard W K
GW
Altrecht Institute for Mental Health Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands. g.hugenholtz@altrecht.nl
Heerdink
Eibert R
ER
Nolen
Willem A
WA
Egberts
Antoine C G
AC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents