PHARMACOLOGIC OPTIONS FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA: IMPLICATIONS
FOR COMPLIANCE
John M. Kane, M.D., 75-59 263rd Street, Glen Oaks,
NY 11004-1150
The introduction of second-generation or "atypical" antipsychotics
has provided a range of valuable new treatment options to enhance efficacy,
tolerability, and adherence. Despite these advances nonacceptance and
nonadherence of optimum treatment recommendations pose a serious challenge
and have enormous public health implications.
Though there are clear advantages to long-acting antipsychotic medications,
they have not been widely utilized in the U.S. Contributing factors may
include the side-effect profiles of these drugs. A typical antipsychotics
have been associated with lower relapse rates than conventional antipsychotics.
The availability of a new generation antipsychotic in a long-acting alternative
should go a long way toward taking better advantage of this option.
Many clinical trials have had difficulty determining the potential benefits
of long-acting medications because they were not utilized under "real
world" circumstances. The appropriate consideration and utilization of
this approach requires an optimum patient clinician relationship.
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