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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pretty_paints on August 14, 2005, at 11:58:58
Hiya,
How long do doctors usually give a trial of Clozapine? Does anyone know, how long does it take to see any results? When do you get the maximum results - a few weeks/a few months/a year??
Some people have told me it can keep increasing it's effect for up to a year, is this true?
Thanks guys
Love your suddenly-very-fat friend Katie xxx
Posted by Phillipa on August 14, 2005, at 13:05:12
In reply to How long for Clozapine trial?, posted by pretty_paints on August 14, 2005, at 11:58:58
Katie, I know you couldn't be fat! How tall are you and what do you weigh? If clonazapine is the right drug and works which is more important? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by med_empowered on August 14, 2005, at 15:59:03
In reply to How long for Clozapine trial?, posted by pretty_paints on August 14, 2005, at 11:58:58
clozapine is a kind of odd drug--the side effects can be awful (dense sedation, drooling, weight gain, seizures), but, compared to most other neuroleptics (even the other atypical neuroleptics on the market), clozapine offers some definite advantages--low risk of EPS, even lower risk of TD, improved cognitive function, treatment of refractory psychotic disorders/mood-disorders w/ psychotic features, so on and so forth. With most antipsychotics, including most of the other atypicals on the market, you usually give it a 6 week trial; if you're hospitalized or otherwise pressed for time, 4 weeks might suffice. With clozapine...it takes a while to get up to the appropriate dosage; after that, it will take a while for you to adapt to it (or see if you will adpat to it)....so, I'd think 6 weeks would be sufficient to see if it offers control over delusions/hallucinations and/or paranoia, and you should probably see an improvement in any "negative symptoms," if that applies to your situation. Some people do adjust to clozapine and other side-effect heavy medications; but, it really is *your* decision as to whether or not you're willing to accept certain side-effects long or short term and whether on balance the risks: benefits ratio is favorable. IF you opt to stay on clozapine, you may see improvement for a while...when clozapine was still in very limited use (after being pulled from the market, but still released to select populations because of consumer demand), it was noted that clozapine-treated people saw ongoing improvements in negative symptoms, mood-symptoms, and had increasing levels of social interaction and integration over an extended period of time...basically, their quality of life continued to improve for a good while, and then levelled-off; when it did level off, the clozapine-patients had a *much* higher overall quality of life than those treated with conventional neuroleptics. But, again, its your life, and its your decision; I dont know what your diagnosis is, or what you've tried already, but there probably are a number of other options if clozapine doesn't work out for you. Good luck!
Posted by ed_uk on August 14, 2005, at 16:12:14
In reply to How long for Clozapine trial?, posted by pretty_paints on August 14, 2005, at 11:58:58
Hi Katie!
What dose are you on now? How are you feeling?
>How long for Clozapine trial?
It's normal to give clozapine several months at least.
>When do you get the maximum results - a few weeks/a few months/a year??
Commonly a few months. Some people may continue to improve for up to a year.
Love Ed xxx
This is the end of the thread.
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