Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior
Published on: March 2, 2015
Sexual disturbances during clozapine and haloperidol treatment for schizophrenia
1Department of Biological Psychiatry, Innsbruck University Clinics, Austria. Martina.Hummer@uibk.ac.at
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and course of sexual disturbances associated with clozapine and haloperidol and their potential influence on compliance with medication regimens in patients with schizophrenia.
Method:
The authors prospectively investigated 153 patients with schizophrenia who received clozapine (N = 100) or haloperidol (N = 53) in a drug monitoring program.
Results:
The frequency of sexual disturbances was lower in female patients than in male patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients taking haloperidol and those taking clozapine in the frequency of these disturbances. Clozapine plasma levels had a significant effect on diminished sexual desire and functional disturbances in male patients. Functional disturbances and diminished sexual desire did not have any influence on compliance in patients taking either haloperidol or clozapine.
Conclusions:
There was no statistically significant difference between haloperidol and clozapine in regard to their propensity to induce sexual side effects.
Related Concept Videos
Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
Antipsychotic Drugs: Therapeutic Uses and Side Effects
Despite these side effects, antipsychotics are used therapeutically for various purposes, including managing schizophrenia, preventing nausea and vomiting, curbing...
Drug Therapy
Antianxiety Medications
Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...

