Schizophrenia: A stepwise approach to co-ordination of care
Sophie is on clozapine in a typical shared care prescribing arrangement. Read her case report and take the quick quiz.
Tag: Antipsychotics
Why doctors should be more open with patients about antidepressants and weight gain
When Dr Manfred Penzhorn prescribes antidepressants, he tells patients they are “almost certainly” about to put on weight. “Very few psychiatric medications don’t cause some…
Watchdog warns doctors to limit psychotropics in people with intellectual disability
Psychotropic medications should only be prescribed as a “last resort” for behaviours of concern in patients with intellectual disability, according to a new clinical care…
Antipsychotic use in dementia tied to ‘wide range’ of adverse outcomes
For adults with dementia, antipsychotic use is associated with increased risks for stroke, MI, heart failure, VTE, fracture, pneumonia and acute kidney injury, according to…
Consider ECG monitoring when prescribing antipsychotics: study
ECG monitoring should be considered in all patients prescribed antipsychotics before and after starting treatment to avert the risk of sudden cardiac death and ventricular…
Safe to stop monthly blood tests for clozapine after two years: Aussie study
Most patients given clozapine for schizophrenia can stop monthly blood tests after two years, according to Australian psychiatrists who say the current practice of indefinite…
Chemical restraints: PBAC investigates whether mirtazapine is the new risperidone
An upcoming PBAC review of antipsychotic prescribing will consider whether risperidone restrictions in aged care are behind the increasing use of other chemical restraints. Since…
Risperidone under renewed scrutiny as use in aged care rises
The PBAC is planning a fresh review of antipsychotic prescribing in aged care after a report found the use of risperidone to treat dementia symptoms…
GPs urged to watch for gambling problems with common antipsychotic
Adults prescribed aripiprazole therapy for schizophrenia need to be watched for signs of gambling addiction, according to a leading GP, who warns the side effect…
Off-label quetiapine ‘ups risk of major CV events’
Low-dose quetiapine used off label as a sedative carries a higher risk of cardiovascular-related death than Z-drug hypnotics or SSRIs, Danish researchers have found. Quetiapine has already been linked to…
