title: Combination of ziprasidone and clozapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
abstract: In cases of treatment-resistant schizophrenia the combined application of antipsychotic drugs often becomes necessary. Clozapine has been combined successfully with other atypical antipsychotic drugs such as risperidone or amisulpride in the past. We report the difficult treatment of a 28-year-old schizophrenic woman. Psychotic symptoms were found resistant to monotherapy with clozapine or ziprasidone. In contrast, combined application led to a marked improvement in both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia along with a decrease of side effects.The reported combination is a promising option in cases of treatment-resistant schizophrenia and should be further evaluated in prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Mannheim, Germany. zink@kv.zi-mannheim.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zink
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mase
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dressing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D013844:Thiazoles; C092292:ziprasidone; D003024:Clozapine