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Clozapine and jaw dyskinesia: a case report
J de Leon1, L Moral, C Camuñas
1Medical College of Pennsylvania, Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, Philadelphia 19129.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|December 1, 1991
Summary
Clozapine is generally not linked to tardive dyskinesia. However, two cases of clozapine-associated dyskinesia, including a persistent jaw movement disorder, suggest a potential link.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
Background:
- Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
- Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious side effect of antipsychotics, typically associated with older agents.
- Historically, clozapine has been considered to have a low risk of inducing TD.
Observation:
- This report details a case of persistent jaw dyskinesia in a 49-year-old female schizophrenic patient.
- The dyskinesia emerged two weeks after initiating clozapine treatment.
- The condition did not improve with anticholinergic medication and persisted for over a year while clozapine treatment continued.
Findings:
- Two cases of dyskinesia associated with clozapine use are known.
- One case involved reversible initial dyskinesia, while the presented case is of persistent jaw dyskinesia.
- The findings suggest clozapine may induce dyskinetic movements, challenging its previously assumed low risk.
Implications:
- These findings necessitate careful monitoring for dyskinetic movements in patients treated with clozapine.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the potential mechanisms of clozapine-induced dyskinesia.
- The risk-benefit profile of clozapine may need re-evaluation in light of these observations.