Conference paper

ANTIPSYCHOTICS: TO COMBINE OR NOT TO COMBINE?

Marina Šagud ; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb, Croatia
Bjanka Vuksan-Ćusa ; University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Živković ; Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Suzana Vlatković ; Neuropsychiatric Hospital “Ivan Barbot”, Popovača, Croatia
Milivoj Kramarić ; University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb, Croatia
Zoran Bradaš ; University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb, Croatia
Alma Mihaljević-Peleš1 Mihaljević-Peleš ; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Antipsychotic monotherapy is strongly recommended in the treatment of schizophrenia. However, antipsychotic polypharmacy
(APP) is common in clinical practice, and appears to be related to illness severity and duration, treatment-refractoriness,
hospitalization status, duration of hospitalization, geographic region and age. Given the high number of different antipsychotic
combinations reported in the literature and prescribed in clinical practice, there are perhaps more differences than similarities
between such combinations. While the majority of combinations increase side-effect burden, limited evidence suggests benefits of
certain combinations.Until more data are available, APP should be reserved for difficult-to treat patients, with careful consideration
of pharmacodynamics properties and doses of each drug, as well as close monitoring.

Keywords

antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) - treatment of schizophrenia

Hrčak ID:

161212

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/161212

Publication date:

17.9.2013.

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