CLOZAPINE AS A TREATMENT FOR PSYCHOSIS IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE - A REVIEW

Psychotic symptoms such as visual hallucinations and delusions are a r elatively common clinical problem in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). A dilemma arises in the treatment of psychosis in these patient s because traditional antipsychotics are dopaminergic antagonists that worsen the motor symptoms of PD. Clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic , has been successfully used in the treatment of psychosis in PD patie nts. The use of clozapine in these patients differs significantly, how ever, from its use in young, relatively healthy, treatment-resistant s chizophrenic patients in the dosage required, side effects, and other aspects of management.