Pharmacological management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia: advanced use of clozapine
Clozapine is licensed in the UK for use in treatment-resistant schizophrenia, treatment-intolerant schizophrenia, or psychosis associated with Parkinson’s disease. As with many drugs, it is also used outside of these licensing parameters for other conditions or clinical situations—often referred to as ‘off-label’ prescribing. These off-label indications have varying degrees of theoretical support, peer-reviewed evidence, and practical experience associated with them. This chapter discusses the use of clozapine for children and adolescents, older adults, and in the treatment of aggression and mood disorders. The use of supramaximal doses of clozapine to achieve therapeutic plasma concentrations is also off-label, although adding interacting medication to reach the same result is not; these contrasting approaches are also debated. Finally, rechallenging with clozapine in patients who have previously had serious adverse events to the drug is also considered.