Clozapine-withdrawal catatonia.
BACKGROUND
Case reports in which abrupt clozapine discontinuation led to a return of psychosis, autonomic instability, or catatonia have been previously presented in the literature.


OBJECTIVE
The authors report on symptom presentation and resolution in a case of abrupt withdrawal of clozapine medication.


METHODS
The authors describe the condition and history of the patient, a 49-year-old woman with schizophrenia, the medical support she received, and the re-initiation of her clozapine medication.


RESULTS
Symptoms of catatonia and autonomic instability resolved by Day 4 of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients and their caregivers need to be educated about the effects of abrupt cessation of clozapine administration.
Wadekar
Mitali
M
Dept. of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, UCLA-Psychiatry Residency Program Education Office (116A3), 16111 Plummer St., Bldg. 10, North Hills, CA 91343, USA. mitaliwadekar@gmail.com
Syed
Saba
S
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002389:Catatonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine