Switching Antipsychotics: Abrupt Discontinuation Versus Overlap
NCT ID: NCT02640300
Last Updated: 2024-08-21
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
PHASE4
33 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
1999-05-31
2004-07-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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While the question has not been asked vis-à-vis clozapine, there have been several studies examining gradual vs. immediate antipsychotic discontinuation in switching antipsychotics. Immediate antipsychotic discontinuation is associated with the following risks: (1) withdrawal/discontinuation symptoms or rebound syndromes related to cholinergic, histaminergic, and serotonergic activity; (2) supersensitivity syndromes (e.g., withdrawal dyskinesia, supersensitivity psychosis); and (3) exacerbation/re-emergence of symptoms secondary to diminished response with newly introduced antipsychotic. On the other hand, gradual antipsychotic discontinuation is associated with the risk of worsening/emergent side effects. This said, all of the studies, including one meta-analysis, report no differences in efficacy and safety between immediate and gradual discontinuation strategies in antipsychotic switching. However, it should be also noted that all of the studies were conducted under an open-label design or a single-blind design.
To address the gap in knowledge specific to clozapine, the investigators conducted a pilot, 8-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial examining immediate vs. gradual antipsychotic discontinuation in patients with schizophrenia undergoing a switch to clozapine.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
QUADRUPLE
Study Groups
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Immediate discontinuation group
The antipsychotic drugs that patients took at baseline were prepared in unmarked capsules, with the dose adjusted to provide a 25% reduction weekly over the next 3 weeks. The dose tapering schedule was as follows: 3 capsules at baseline, 2 capsules at week 1, 1 capsule at week 2, and 0 capsules at week 3. All capsules contained placebo (i.e., the antipsychotic drugs were abruptly discontinued). Clozapine was gradually increased to 300 mg/day according to the following schedule: 12.5 mg/day at day 0 and increased by 25 mg/day to 300 mg/day at day 12, with this dose maintained for three weeks and thereafter adjusted according to clinical judgment. Concomitant medications were kept constant throughout the study period.
Clozapine
Switching to clozapine with immediate or gradual antipsychotic discontinuation
Gradual discontinuation group
The antipsychotic drugs that patients took at baseline were prepared in unmarked capsules, with the dose adjusted to provide a 25% reduction weekly over the next 3 weeks. The dose tapering schedule was as follows: 3 capsules at baseline, 2 capsules at week 1, 1 capsule at week 2, and 0 capsules (i.e., the antipsychotic drugs were discontinued) at week 3. Clozapine was gradually increased to 300 mg/day according to the following schedule: 12.5 mg/day at day 0 and increased by 25 mg/day to 300 mg/day at day 12, with this dose maintained for three weeks and thereafter adjusted according to clinical judgment. Concomitant medications were kept constant throughout the study period.
Clozapine
Switching to clozapine with immediate or gradual antipsychotic discontinuation
Interventions
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Clozapine
Switching to clozapine with immediate or gradual antipsychotic discontinuation
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Candidacy for a trial of clozapine, defined as an inadequate clinical response to ≥ two antipsychotics (detailed in a pivotal clozapine study) and/or intolerable side effects
Exclusion Criteria
* Evidence of significant nonadherence, defined as ≤75% adherence following patient interview, review of records, and discussion with treating physician and caregivers
18 Years
60 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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The Ian Douglas Bebensee Foundation
UNKNOWN
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Gary Remington
Professor
Principal Investigators
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Gary Remington, MD, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Locations
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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Countries
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References
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Azorin JM, Spiegel R, Remington G, Vanelle JM, Pere JJ, Giguere M, Bourdeix I. A double-blind comparative study of clozapine and risperidone in the management of severe chronic schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry. 2001 Aug;158(8):1305-13. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.158.8.1305.
Chakos M, Lieberman J, Hoffman E, Bradford D, Sheitman B. Effectiveness of second-generation antipsychotics in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Am J Psychiatry. 2001 Apr;158(4):518-26. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.158.4.518.
Lewis SW, Barnes TR, Davies L, Murray RM, Dunn G, Hayhurst KP, Markwick A, Lloyd H, Jones PB. Randomized controlled trial of effect of prescription of clozapine versus other second-generation antipsychotic drugs in resistant schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull. 2006 Oct;32(4):715-23. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbj067. Epub 2006 Mar 15.
McEvoy JP, Lieberman JA, Stroup TS, Davis SM, Meltzer HY, Rosenheck RA, Swartz MS, Perkins DO, Keefe RS, Davis CE, Severe J, Hsiao JK; CATIE Investigators. Effectiveness of clozapine versus olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone in patients with chronic schizophrenia who did not respond to prior atypical antipsychotic treatment. Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Apr;163(4):600-10. doi: 10.1176/ajp.2006.163.4.600.
Souza JS, Kayo M, Tassell I, Martins CB, Elkis H. Efficacy of olanzapine in comparison with clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia: evidence from a systematic review and meta-analyses. CNS Spectr. 2013 Apr;18(2):82-9. doi: 10.1017/S1092852912000806. Epub 2012 Dec 20.
Warnez S, Alessi-Severini S. Clozapine: a review of clinical practice guidelines and prescribing trends. BMC Psychiatry. 2014 Apr 7;14:102. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-14-102.
Collins EJ, Lalonde P, Jones BD, Addington D, MacCrimmon DJ, MacEwan GW, Teehan MD. Clozapine in the treatment of refractory schizophrenia: Canadian policies and clinical guidelines. Can J Psychiatry. 1992 Sep;37(7):482-96. doi: 10.1177/070674379203700704. English, French.
Devinsky O, Honigfeld G, Patin J. Clozapine-related seizures. Neurology. 1991 Mar;41(3):369-71. doi: 10.1212/wnl.41.3.369.
Ifteni P, Nielsen J, Burtea V, Correll CU, Kane JM, Manu P. Effectiveness and safety of rapid clozapine titration in schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2014 Jul;130(1):25-9. doi: 10.1111/acps.12241. Epub 2013 Dec 20.
Pacia SV, Devinsky O. Clozapine-related seizures: experience with 5,629 patients. Neurology. 1994 Dec;44(12):2247-9. doi: 10.1212/wnl.44.12.2247.
Ronaldson KJ, Fitzgerald PB, Taylor AJ, Topliss DJ, Wolfe R, McNeil JJ. Rapid clozapine dose titration and concomitant sodium valproate increase the risk of myocarditis with clozapine: a case-control study. Schizophr Res. 2012 Nov;141(2-3):173-8. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.08.018. Epub 2012 Sep 23.
Kinon BJ, Basson BR, Gilmore JA, Malcolm S, Stauffer VL. Strategies for switching from conventional antipsychotic drugs or risperidone to olanzapine. J Clin Psychiatry. 2000 Nov;61(11):833-40. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v61n1105.
Lee CT, Conde BJ, Mazlan M, Visanuyothin T, Wang A, Wong MM, Walker DJ, Roychowdhury SM, Wang H, Tran PV. Switching to olanzapine from previous antipsychotics: a regional collaborative multicenter trial assessing 2 switching techniques in Asia Pacific. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002 Jul;63(7):569-76. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v63n0706.
Casey DE, Carson WH, Saha AR, Liebeskind A, Ali MW, Jody D, Ingenito GG; Aripiprazole Study Group. Switching patients to aripiprazole from other antipsychotic agents: a multicenter randomized study. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2003 Apr;166(4):391-9. doi: 10.1007/s00213-002-1344-3. Epub 2003 Feb 28.
Weiden PJ, Simpson GM, Potkin SG, O'Sullivan RL. Effectiveness of switching to ziprasidone for stable but symptomatic outpatients with schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003 May;64(5):580-8. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v64n0514.
Ganguli R, Brar JS, Mahmoud R, Berry SA, Pandina GJ. Assessment of strategies for switching patients from olanzapine to risperidone: a randomized, open-label, rater-blinded study. BMC Med. 2008 Jun 30;6:17. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-6-17.
Pae CU, Serretti A, Chiesa A, Mandelli L, Lee C, Lee C, Kim J, De Ronchi D, Paik IH. Immediate versus gradual suspension of previous treatments during switch to aripiprazole: results of a randomized, open label study. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2009 Aug;19(8):562-70. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2009.04.002. Epub 2009 May 12.
Stip E, Zhornitsky S, Potvin S, Tourjman V. Switching from conventional antipsychotics to ziprasidone: a randomized, open-label comparison of regimen strategies. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Aug 16;34(6):997-1000. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.05.010. Epub 2010 May 12.
Weiden PJ, Citrome L, Alva G, Brams M, Glick ID, Jackson R, Mattingly G, Kianifard F, Meng X, Pestreich L, Hochfeld M, Winseck A. A trial evaluating gradual- or immediate-switch strategies from risperidone, olanzapine, or aripiprazole to iloperidone in patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2014 Mar;153(1-3):160-8. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.11.042. Epub 2014 Feb 12.
Cerovecki A, Musil R, Klimke A, Seemuller F, Haen E, Schennach R, Kuhn KU, Volz HP, Riedel M. Withdrawal symptoms and rebound syndromes associated with switching and discontinuing atypical antipsychotics: theoretical background and practical recommendations. CNS Drugs. 2013 Jul;27(7):545-72. doi: 10.1007/s40263-013-0079-5.
Remington G, Chue P, Stip E, Kopala L, Girard T, Christensen B. The crossover approach to switching antipsychotics: what is the evidence? Schizophr Res. 2005 Jul 15;76(2-3):267-72. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2005.01.009.
Kane J, Honigfeld G, Singer J, Meltzer H. Clozapine for the treatment-resistant schizophrenic. A double-blind comparison with chlorpromazine. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988 Sep;45(9):789-96. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1988.01800330013001.
Takeuchi H, Lee J, Fervaha G, Foussias G, Agid O, Remington G. Switching to Clozapine Using Immediate Versus Gradual Antipsychotic Discontinuation: A Pilot, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2017 Feb;78(2):223-228. doi: 10.4088/JCP.15m10286.
Related Links
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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is the leading mental health and addictions research facility in Canada, and one of the largest in the world.
Other Identifiers
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4962
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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