Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Examination of Oral Candida Infection in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
Salivary flow rate in patients with schizophrenia on clozapine
Samir Kumar Praharaj1, Amlan Kusum Jana, Kausik Goswami
1Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand-834 006, India. samirpsyche@yahoo.co.in
Aims:
To assess the change in salivary flow rate in patients with schizophrenia on clozapine and whether the change in salivary flow rate was dose related.
Methods:
Twenty male inpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision diagnostic criteria for research who were started on clozapine were recruited for the study. Unstimulated salivary flow rate was assessed at baseline and then weekly for 4 weeks using cotton swab method in 17 patients.
Results:
Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant increase in salivary flow rate over time (F [2.37/37.94] = 3.134, P = 0.047, Greenhouse-Geisser correction, eta = 0.16). Also, there was a significant increase in salivary flow rate between weeks 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between salivary flow rate and mean clozapine dose.
Conclusions:
There was a significant increase in salivary flow rate from baseline after starting clozapine, with a significant increase from the second to the third week followed by a "plateau."
Related Concept Videos
Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Salivary Glands and Saliva
Schizophrenia
Drug Therapy
Antianxiety Medications
Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
