Preface
Acknowledgements
Notes on using The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines
List of abbreviations
Chapter 1 Plasma level monitoring of psychotropic drugs
Interpreting sample results
Acting on clozapine plasma concentration results
Interpreting post-mortem blood concentrations
Chapter 2 Schizophrenia
ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS
General introduction
General principles of prescribing
Minimum effective doses
Quick reference for licensed maximum doses
Equivalent doses
High��dose antipsychotics: prescribing and monitoring
Antipsychotic prophylaxis
Combined antipsychotics
Negative symptoms
Monitoring
Relative adverse effects �� a rough guide
Treatment algorithms for schizophrenia
First��generation antipsychotics��place in therapy
Omega��3 fatty acid (fish oils) in schizophrenia
New and developing drugs to treat schizophrenia
NICE guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia
Antipsychotic response �� to increase the dose, to switch,to add or just wait �� what is the right move?
Antipsychotic long��acting injections
Depot antipsychotics �� pharmacokinetics
Management of patients on long��term depots
Aripiprazole LAI
Olanzapine LAI
Paliperidone palmitate LAI
Risperidone LAI
ANTIPSYCHOT ICS �� ADVERS E EFFECTS
Extrapyramidal side��effects
Akathisia
Weight gain
Treatment of drug��induced weight gain
Tardive dyskinesia
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Catatonia
QT prolongation
Dyslipidaemia
Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance
Hypertension
Hyponatraemia
Hyperprolactinaemia
Sexual dysfunction
Pneumonia
Switching antipsychotics
REFRACTORY SCHIZOPHRENIA AND CLOZAPINE
Clozapine �� dosing regimen
Optimising clozapine treatment
Alternatives to clozapine
Re��starting clozapine after a break in treatment
Initiation of clozapine for community��based patients
CLOZAPINE �� ADVERS E EFFECTS
Common adverse effects
Clozapine: uncommon or unusual adverse effects
Clozapine: serious haematological and cardiovascular adverse effects
Clozapine��indu