Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
12:59
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
13.1K
[Clozapine for elderly people with schizophrenia]
Philip Lindblad Thorsen1, Jesper Krogh Lauridsen2, Samuel Azuz1,3
1Klinisk Farmakologisk Enhed, Aalborg Universitetshospital.
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|January 23, 2026
Summary
This review examines clozapine use in elderly patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Careful dosing and monitoring are crucial to manage side effects and ensure safety in this population.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Geriatrics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Clozapine is an effective antipsychotic for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
- Clinical data on clozapine efficacy and safety in elderly patients are limited.
- Elderly individuals may experience higher clozapine plasma levels, increasing risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical efficacy of clozapine in elderly patients.
- To highlight safety concerns and side effects associated with clozapine in older adults.
- To emphasize the need for individualized dosing and monitoring.
Main Methods:
- This is a review article.
- Literature search on clozapine use in elderly populations.
- Analysis of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data.
Main Results:
- Elderly patients often achieve higher clozapine plasma concentrations.
- Increased risk of adverse events including sedation, hypotension, metabolic issues, pneumonia, and ileus.
- Pneumonia and ileus are associated with significant mortality in this group.
Conclusions:
- Individualized clozapine dosing is essential for elderly patients.
- Regular monitoring is critical for managing side effects and ensuring safety.
- Optimizing clozapine therapy requires careful attention to age-related factors.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Schizophrenia
838
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those...
838
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
535
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
535
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
495
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
495
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
501
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
501
01:26Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
520
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by a range of symptoms that significantly impact cognition, behavior, and emotional regulation. Among these, the positive symptoms stand out as they involve the addition or exaggeration of normal mental functions, deviating markedly from typical behavior and perception. Hallucinations and delusions are prominent positive symptoms, each profoundly affecting the individual's experience of reality.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...
520
01:30Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
582
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
582