Safety evaluation of zotepine for the treatment of schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Atypical antipsychotics have become the first-line treatment for patients suffering from schizophrenia in the industrialized world. Given the frequent necessity of a life-long enduring antipsychotic treatment, the compounds' safety profile is of great importance for patients and caregivers. Zotepine is an antipsychotic with atypical properties and previous data have suggested a very favorable side effect profile.


METHODS
The aim of this review is to provide a broad knowledge base on the safety profile of zotepine deriving from currently available research results published in English medical databases. The focus of this research reports starts in the 1990s with zotepine's approval in Europe.


RESULTS
This paper incorporates data on placebo-controlled studies of zotepine as well as studies with comparator compounds also beyond the diagnostic boarder of schizophrenia regarding zotepine's safety.


CONCLUSIONS
The take home message of this safety evaluation of zotepine is that compared to typical compounds zotepine induces less extrapyramidal side effects; however, in terms of comparing zotepine's safety with other atypical antipsychotics more studies are needed to draw final conclusions.
Riedel
Michael
M
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Munich, Germany. riedel@med.uni-muenchen.de
Musil
Richard
R
Seemüller
Florian
F
Spellmann
Ilja
I
Möller
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Schennach-Wolff
Rebecca
R
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D003988:Dibenzothiepins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003988:Dibenzothiepins; C022172:zotepine