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01-01-2008 | Review Article

Benefits and Risks of Antipsychotic Polypharmacy

An Evidence-Based Review of the Literature

Authors: Dr Constantin Tranulis, Leila Skalli, Pierre Lalonde, Luc Nicole, Emmanuel Stip

Published in: Drug Safety | Issue 1/2008

Abstract

Combination antipsychotic prescription is an increasingly common practice in clinical psychiatry. This clinical practice is at odds with clinical guidelines promoting antipsychotic monotherapy. Moreover, there has been increased concern over the safety profile of atypical antipsychotics in the last 10–15 years. We reviewed the literature on antipsychotic combinations with a focus on safety and efficacy. Multiple electronic database searches were complemented by relevant bibliography cross-checking and expert discussions. The review showed a literature that is dominated by case reports and uncontrolled studies. Polypharmacy was unequally studied, with some recent combinations (i.e. clozapine and risperidone) being extensively, albeit inconclusively, studied and other more commonly used combinations (first-with second-generation agents) receiving little attention. From an evidence-based perspective, further trials of antipsychotic association of sufficient power to address safety issues are needed before recommending any antipsychotic combination. Particular weaknesses of the present literature are low number of participants, lack of adequate control of confounding variables, short duration of experimental follow-up and inadequate monitoring of potential adverse effects.

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Title: Benefits and Risks of Antipsychotic Polypharmacy
An Evidence-Based Review of the Literature
Authors: Dr Constantin Tranulis
Leila Skalli
Pierre Lalonde
Luc Nicole
Emmanuel Stip
Publication date: 01-01-2008
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Drug Safety / Issue 1/2008
Print ISSN: 0114-5916
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1942
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200831010-00002

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Benefits and Risks of Antipsychotic Polypharmacy

An Evidence-Based Review of the Literature

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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