scholarly journals High-dose antipsychotic treatment in clinical practice

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 661-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip J. Tyson ◽  
Ann M. Mortimer ◽  
Jason A Wheeler

Aims and methodA trust-wide audit of antipsychotic prescription was conducted in order to investigate the prevalence of high-dose treatment in a population with schizophrenia and assess compliance with Royal College of Psychiatrists' guidelines on the use of high doses. Details of antipsychotic medication were recorded and in cases of high-dose treatment compliance with the College's guidelines was assessed.ResultsSixteen out of 361 patients (4%) were receiving high-dose medication. At re-audit this figure fell to four patients (1%). High-dose treatment comprised of a combined depot and oral medication in most cases. There was poor compliance with the College's guidelines.Clinical implicationsThe study stresses the importance of monitoring patients on high-dose antipsychotics, particularly when taken in combination.

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 418-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Harrington ◽  
Paul Lelliott ◽  
Carol Paton ◽  
Maria Konsolaki ◽  
Tom Sensky ◽  
...  

Aims and MethodA 1-day census provided an opportunity to examine the variation between 44 mental health services in the frequency of prescribing high doses and polypharmacy of antipsychotic drugs to in-patients on acute psychiatric wards.ResultsThe proportion of patients prescribed a high dose ranged 0–50% and simultaneous use of more than one antipsychotic drug ranged 12–71%. A number of case-mix variables explained 26% and 40%, respectively, of the variance between services on these two indicators of prescribing practice.Clinical ImplicationsServices with high rates of prescription of high dose or polypharmacy might consider a review of clinical practice and of service-level factors that might affect prescribing.


1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 676-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter L. Cornwall ◽  
Fuad Hassanyeh ◽  
Caprice Horn

We audited the use of high-dose antipsychotic drugs in patients admitted to a special (intensive) care unit over two periods. Five out of 57 patients in the first sample and three out of 62 in the second were treated with a single antipsychotic drug above the British National Formulary maximum dose. The proportion of patients treated with antipsychotic drugs such that the total dose in chlorpromazine equivalents was greater than 1000 mg, fed. The audit showed improvements in clinical practice, particularly with respect to the onset of, indication for and outcome of high-dose treatment and in monitoring the patients' physical status.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 2109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eriko Yasutomi ◽  
Sakiko Hiraoka ◽  
Shumpei Yamamoto ◽  
Shohei Oka ◽  
Mami Hirai ◽  
...  

Background and aim: Oral mesalazine and sulfasalazine (SASP) are key drugs for treating ulcerative colitis (UC). The efficacy of switching from one of the several mesalazine formulations to another is largely unknown. This study assessed the efficacy of switching among three types of mesalazine formulation and SASP for UC therapy. Methods: UC patients receiving high-dose mesalazine/SASP who switched to other formulations due to disease activity were considered eligible. Efficacy was evaluated 2, 6, and 12 months after switching. Results: A total of 106 switches in 88 UC patients were analyzed. The efficacy at 2 months after switching was observed in 23/39 (59%) cases from any mesalazine formulation to SASP, in 18/55 (33%) cases from one mesalazine to another, and in 2/12 (17%) cases from SASP to any mesalazine formulation. Nine of 43 effective cases showed inefficacy or became intolerant post-switching. Delayed efficacy more than two months after switching was observed in four cases. Steroid-free remission was achieved in 42/106 (39%) cases—within 100 days in 35 of these cases (83%). Conclusions: Switching from mesalazine to SASP was effective in more than half of cases. The efficacy of switching between mesalazine formulations was lower but may be worth attempting in clinical practice from a safety perspective.


1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 538-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Lowe ◽  
H. Smith ◽  
A. Clark

The Royal College of Psychiatrists' consensus statement suggests that prescribing high dose antipsychotic medication in children and adolescents should rarely be necessary. Our objective was to study the prescribing of antipsychotic medication in a regional adolescent unit during a three-year period. We found that antipsychotic prescribing on this unit is common in psychotic disorders and often high closes are required. This is not in keeping with the recommendations of the consensus statement. Review of clinical practice on other adolescent units is needed, together with a more comprehensive evaluation of the outcome of psychotic disorders in this age group.


2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 411-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Lelliott ◽  
Carol Paton ◽  
Maria Harrington ◽  
Maria Konsolaki ◽  
Tom Sensky ◽  
...  

Aims and MethodA1-day census, involving 3576 psychiatric in-patients prescribed antipsychotic medication, was conducted as a prelude to a multi-centre audit. The aim was to explore the extent to which a number of patient variables explain antipsychotic polypharmacy and the use of high doses of these drugs.ResultsPrescriptions of more than one type of antipsychotic drug were made for 50.5% of patients. Patient factors that influenced the probability of polypharmacy were: younger age, being male, detained under the Mental Health Act and on a rehabilitation or forensic ward, and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The effect of ethnicity was not significant. Polypharmacy was the most powerful factor influencing the probability of being prescribed a high dose. Identified patient variables accounted for only 18% of the variance in dose prescribed.Clinical ImplicationsThe patient and clinician factors that account for the unexplained variance need to be identified.


1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 675-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Milton ◽  
John Lawton ◽  
Mark Smith ◽  
Ann Buckley

Aims and methodThe Royal College of Psychiatrists' Consensus Statement on “The use of high-dose antipsychotic medication’ suggests only fully qualified psychiatrists (MRCPsych) should recommend the prescribing of high-dose antipsychotic treatment. We observed changes in anti-psychotic prescribing in two surveys of psychiatric in-patients conducted eight and 32 months after publication of the Consensus Statement.ResultsOverall mean chlorpromazine equivalent doses of antipsychotic drugs reduced between the surveys. When p.r.n. (as required) prescribing (usually done by junior doctors) is included, mean potential doses and numbers of patients who might receive ‘high-doses' increases substantially, although the reduction between surveys in total mean dose and proportion of patients on high-dose antipsychotic medication is preserved, and the actual use of p.r.n. medication was low (4–5% of p.r.n. prescriptions).Clinical implicationsWe recommend the development of local guidelines for junior staff concerning antipsychotic drug prescribing, regular monitoring of p.r.n. medication by consultants, and pharmacists' involvement in reviews of patients prescribed high-dose antipsychotic medication.


1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 566-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Yorston ◽  
Alison Pinney

An audit of antipsychotic prescribing was carried out on community and in-patient samples. A novel method of expressing total daily antipsychotic dose as a percentage of the British National Formulary maximum recommended dose was used. Of 226 patients who had been prescribed antipsychotics, 16 (7%) were found to be on high closes. Their medical notes were examined to ascertain whether the Royal College of Psychiatrists guidelines were being followed. Recommendations on ways in which practice could be improved were made and a re-audit was carried out. The number of patients receiving high doses fell to 6 (3%) out of 206.


1978 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 601-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sandow ◽  
M. Hahn

ABSTRACT Male golden hamsters were treated with low doses (50 or 100 ng) or high doses (500–1000 ng) of LH-RH for periods of 10 to 21 days. Gonadal atrophy was induced by blinding. Treatment of intact hamsters with high doses of LH-RH reduced pituitary sensitivity to a test dose of LH-RH given at the end of the experiment. Concomitantly, testis and seminal vesicles were reduced in weight. In blind hamsters with gonadal atrophy, low dose treatment with LH-RH for 21 days reversed testicular atrophy and restored spermatogenesis, while the high dose treatment partly reversed testicular atrophy (viz. increased tubular diameter) but inhibited spermatogenesis. Low dose treatment also increased testicular and seminal vesicles weight in blinded hamsters, whereas high dose treatment did not change these parameters. It is concluded, that a positive effect on testicular function may only be obtained by low dose treatment with LH-RH, whereas high dose treatment induces a negative feedback blocking the effect of LH-RH on pituitary gonadotrophin secretion.


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