The safety of clozapine in the elderly.
BACKGROUND
Clozapine was the first atypical 'broad spectrum' antipsychotic drug to be marketed and the first agent approved for the treatment of schizophrenia refractory to other medications. It is also effective for the treatment of aggressive behaviour in schizophrenic and demented patients and in the management of psychosis and aggression in Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this review is to study the safety of clozapine for use in elderly patients.


METHODS
An extensive Medline search was made. Some studies that were referenced in reports from our pharmacovigilance centre and from regulatory agencies such as the FDA, EMEA and WHO were included.


CONCLUSIONS
Clozapine treatment in the elderly requires a careful geriatric assessment. However, its use is strongly limited by the possibility of onset of severe adverse effects such as potentially fatal agranulocytosis, myocarditis and others such as seizures, weight gain and metabolic adverse effects.
Gareri
Pietro
P
University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, "Mater Domini" University Hospital, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Catanzaro, Italy. pietro.gareri@alice.it
De Fazio
Pasquale
P
Russo
Emilio
E
Marigliano
Norma
N
De Fazio
Salvatore
S
De Sarro
Giovambattista
G