[Delirium on re-starting clozapine after a short break in treatment].
Extra care must be taken in treating patients with clozapine because of the serious side-effects. A 44-year-old man with schizophrenia developed delirium on two occasions immediately after restarting clozapine at the dosage he had previously tolerated well; the clozapine-free periods had lasted 2 and 10 days respectively. Because of this 're-challenge' it seems very likely that there is a causal relation between the direct resumption of treatment with clozapine and delirium. Even if clozapine treatment is interrupted for only a short time it is important that the 'new' course begins with a low dosage and is increased very cautiously until it reaches the former, tolerated level.
Benckhuijsen
J A W
JA
AMC de Meren, afdeling Ambulant Team Psychotische stoornissen, Postbus 75867, 1070 AW Amsterdam, Netherland.
Keet
I P M
IP
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine