Psychiatria pre prax 3/2002

Discontinuation of drug therapy in schizophrenic disorders

The strategy of therapy with neuroleptics has changed repeatedly for several decades in correlation with evaluation of the benefits and risks. In long-term maintenance therapy there has been an upward trend in the use of as low a dose of antipsychotic as possible in order to keep the side-effects to a minimum, to maintain the status quo for quality of life and to increase compliance. Within a specific time-frame we must decide whether or not to continue with a particular drug therapy, and if not then we have to consider the risks due to drug discontinuation. Among these risks there can be relapses and signs of the drug discontinuation syndrome. Ways of how to discontinue neuroleptics by various types of courses and types of the disease are considered, as well as the risk factors for relapses and the symptoms of the drug discontinuation syndrome, which depend on the pharmacological profile of the particular antipsychotic drug.

Keywords: schizophrenia, relapse, drug discontinuation syndrome, maintenance therapy.