This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 0269881106068289v1 21/4/453    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (13) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Karunakaran, K. Articles by Harborne, G. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Karunakaran, K. Articles by Harborne, G. C. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB CHOLESTEROL CLOZAPINE Medline Plus Health Information Schizophrenia Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Is clozapine—aripiprazole combination a useful regime in the management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia?

North East Wales NHS Trust, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Croesnewydd Road, Wrexham, UK

Tongeji E. Tungaraza

North East Wales NHS Trust, Pwll Glas Resources Centre, Pwll Glas Road, Mold, Flintshire, UK, eliphaz{at}doctors.org.uk

Giles C. Harborne

North East Wales NHS Trust, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Croesnewydd Road, Wrexham, UK

Around 40—70% patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia fail to respond to clozapine. Though combining antipsychotics is commonly practised with non-responders, there is Little evidence for its use.

We carried out a retrospective review of case notes of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia on clozapine—aripiprazole combination at our clozapine clinic. We report changes in psychotic symptoms, social function, weight, total cholesterol, serum glucose, HDL, CGI and GAF score pre- and post-aripiprazole augmentation.

Clozapine—aripiprazole combination was associated with 22% reduction of clozapine dose. Eighteen out of 24 (75%) Lost a mean weight of 5.05 kg. There was improvement in positive and negative symptoms, sociaL functions, weight Loss and a moderate increase in HDL. Our findings suggest that clozapine—aripiprazole is a safe and tolerable combination; however, controL trials are needed to validate our findings.

Key Words: treatment resistant • schizophrenia • clozapine • aripiprazole • augmentation • weight

This version was published on June 1, 2007

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 21, No. 4, 453-456 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0269881106068289


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. U. Correll, C. Rummel-Kluge, C. Corves, J. M. Kane, and S. Leucht Antipsychotic Combinations vs Monotherapy in Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Schizophr Bull, March 1, 2009; 35(2): 443 - 457. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G.-L Hung and Y-Y. Chen Combined low-dose clozapine with low-dose aripiprazole in a schizophrenic patient J Psychopharmacol, January 1, 2009; 23(1): 106 - 108. [Abstract] [PDF]

				U. Lang, M. Willbring, R. von Golitschek, A. Schmeisser, K. Matschke, and S M. Tugtekin Clozapine-induced myocarditis after long-term treatment: case presentation and clinical perspectives J Psychopharmacol, July 1, 2008; 22(5): 576 - 580. [Abstract] [PDF]