Eastern J Med. 2010; 15(2): 71-72

Clozapine associated delirium

Raman Baweja¹, Karim Sedky¹, Steven Lippmann^2
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Delirium is an encephalopathy characterized by disorientation, confusion, and short-term memory impairment. It can be caused by a variety of pharmaceuticals that includes clozapine. The etiology in clozapine cases includes anticholinergic effects and a neuroleptic malignant syndrome-like picture. The risk for a clozapine induced delirium is greater at high dosages, during dose increases, and with polypharmacy. Resolution follows clozapine dose reductions and/or medicine discontinuations.

Keywords: Clozapine; clozapine-induced delirium; neuroleptic malignant syndrome; anticholinergic side effects; schizoaffective disorder

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