Comparison of withdrawal of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs: a case study

Haloperidol and clozapine were rapidly withdrawn from a schizophrenic patient on separate occasions several months apart. Mental status changes and fluctuations in involuntary movements were carefully observed under both conditions. Although little change in either mental status or involuntary movements was observed within the 3 weeks following the withdrawal of haloperidol, marked deterioration in mental status and involuntary movements occurred within 1 week of withdrawal of clozapine. Implications of this differential response to withdrawal of antipsychotic medications are discussed.