[Monitoring of side effects induced by psychotropic drugs]. 2014

Ichiro Kusumi

Clozapine is effective for treatment-refractory schizophrenia, but it shows several severe and potentially life-threatening side effects such as agranulocytosis, myocarditis, and cardiomyopathy. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize the risk of clozapine and maximize its effectiveness by monitoring of safety. White blood cell monitoring is mandatory in many countries, but the clozaril patient monitoring service (CPMS) in Japan additionally requires blood sugar monitoring for adverse metabolic events. Aside from the side effects described above, clozapine can cause various adverse events including constipation, paralytic ileus, seizure, orthostatic hypotension, syncope, hypersalivation, aspiration pneumonia, and oversedation. Consequently, it is important to conduct safety monitoring other than CPMS-based in routine clinical settings. Regarding CPMS as one model for safety monitoring, herein we discuss how to monitor the side effects induced by psychotropic agents. Although the choice of monitoring method depends on which drug is used, routine monitoring of parameters such as serum drug concentration, full blood count, biochemistry test, ECG, EEG, chest and abdominal X-P, body weight, body temperature, pulse, and blood pressure is necessary for early detection and prevention of severe adverse events. Further examinations are necessary to reach consensus on how often monitoring is required. Psychiatrists must devote more attention not only to multidimensional psychiatric symptoms but also to physical conditions. Psychiatrists can show themselves at their best in holistic medical care only by administering balanced psychiatric and physical examinations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007564 Japan A country in eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula. The capital is Tokyo. Bonin Islands
D011619 Psychotropic Drugs A loosely defined grouping of drugs that have effects on psychological function. Here the psychotropic agents include the antidepressive agents, hallucinogens, and tranquilizing agents (including the antipsychotics and anti-anxiety agents). Psychoactive Agent,Psychoactive Agents,Psychoactive Drug,Psychopharmaceutical,Psychopharmaceuticals,Psychotropic Drug,Psychoactive Drugs,Agent, Psychoactive,Agents, Psychoactive,Drug, Psychoactive,Drug, Psychotropic,Drugs, Psychoactive,Drugs, Psychotropic
D003024 Clozapine A tricylic dibenzodiazepine, classified as an atypical antipsychotic agent. It binds several types of central nervous system receptors, and displays a unique pharmacological profile. Clozapine is a serotonin antagonist, with strong binding to 5-HT 2A/2C receptor subtype. It also displays strong affinity to several dopaminergic receptors, but shows only weak antagonism at the dopamine D2 receptor, a receptor commonly thought to modulate neuroleptic activity. Agranulocytosis is a major adverse effect associated with administration of this agent. Clozaril,Leponex
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000380 Agranulocytosis A decrease in the number of GRANULOCYTES; (BASOPHILS; EOSINOPHILS; and NEUTROPHILS). Granulocytopenia,Agranulocytoses,Granulocytopenias
D012559 Schizophrenia A severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with delusion formation, HALLUCINATIONS, emotional disharmony, and regressive behavior. Dementia Praecox,Schizophrenic Disorders,Disorder, Schizophrenic,Disorders, Schizophrenic,Schizophrenias,Schizophrenic Disorder
D016903 Drug Monitoring The process of observing, recording, or detecting the effects of a chemical substance administered to an individual therapeutically or diagnostically. Monitoring, Drug,Therapeutic Drug Monitoring,Drug Monitoring, Therapeutic,Monitoring, Therapeutic Drug

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