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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

treatment resistant schizophrenia clozapine aripiprazole augmentation weight

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