Clozapine use in children and adolescents.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although the role of clozapine is well established for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, it is rarely used in pediatric populations, mainly due to its potentially serious adverse effects.

OBJECTIVE:

To summarize practical aspects of use of clozapine in treating children with schizophrenia and management of associated adverse effects.

METHODS:

Available studies in the literature using clozapine in the pediatric population are summarized and the NIMH experience in treating refractory childhood-onset schizophrenia cases with clozapine is discussed.

CONCLUSION:

Despite a higher incidence of adverse effects in children, clozapine appears to be a uniquely beneficial second-line agent for treating children with refractory schizophrenia.

• Authors: Nitin Gogtay, Judith Rapoport
• Journal: Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy (Expert Opin Pharmacother) Vol. 9 Issue 3 Pg. 459-65 (Feb 2008) ISSN: 1744-7666 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18220495 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Clozapine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Age of Onset
• Akathisia, Drug-Induced (etiology)
• Antipsychotic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Clozapine (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Drug Resistance
• Humans
• Neutropenia (chemically induced)
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Seizures (chemically induced)
• Weight Gain (drug effects)