Use of clozapine in Texas state mental health facilities

Clozapine-use patterns in facilities operated by the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation are reported. Data collected by manual and automated tracking systems from January 1990 through July 1992 were analyzed to determine patient demographics, the number of patients started on clozapine and the number who stopped taking the drug, the reasons for discontinuation, and other variables. Of 852 clozapine recipients still in the departmental system by the end of the study period, 134 (16%) had discontinued the drug by that date. There were no significant differences in gender, age, or race between the patients who discontinued the therapy and those who did not. Almost one fourth of the patients who discontinued clozapine therapy did so within the first month, and more than 90% did so within the first year. The most common reasons for discontinuing the medication were lack of clinical response, patient refusal or request, and adverse effects, including agranulocytosis. More women than men discontinued the drug because of adverse effects. Although relatively few patients discontinued clozapine during the study period, many had only recently begun taking the drug, and some of these may discontinue it in the near future. Of 852 clozapine-treated patients served by the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation between January 1990 and July 1992, 16% discontinued the therapy. One fourth of these did so within the first month of treatment.