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Increasing Clozapine Dispensing Trends in Queensland, Australia 2004-2013
T Forrester1, D Siskind2, K Winckel1
1Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
Pharmacopsychiatry
|June 20, 2015
Summary
Clozapine use for treatment-resistant schizophrenia increased from 2004-2013 but remains suboptimal. Continued monitoring is key to improving clozapine
Area of Science:
- Pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia
- Psychiatric pharmacotherapy
- Antipsychotic medication utilization
Background:
- Clozapine is the most effective medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
- Current clozapine utilization is suboptimal despite its efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in clozapine dispensing in Queensland, Australia from 2004-2013.
- To evaluate clozapine treatment cessation and interruption rates.
Main Methods:
- Extracted clozapine dispensing data from Queensland, Australia (2004-2013).
- Calculated annual number of people dispensed clozapine and mean maintenance doses.
- Utilized Kaplan-Meier analysis to determine 18-week and 5-year cessation and treatment interruption rates.
Main Results:
- Clozapine dispensings increased by 36.4%, reaching 60 people per 100,000 in 2013.
- An estimated 33.3% of individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia received clozapine in 2013.
- The 5-year actuarial estimate for continuous clozapine dispensing was 0.610, with a 0.422 probability of treatment interruption.
Conclusions:
- Clozapine dispensing increased between 2004 and 2013, yet it remains underutilized.
- Enhancing clozapine use, coupled with vigilant adverse effect monitoring, can improve treatment quality.
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