Immediate vs Gradual Discontinuation in Antipsychotic Switching: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Antipsychotic switching is routine in clinical practice, although it remains unclear which is the preferable switching method: immediate discontinuation of the current antipsychotic or a gradual tapering approach. The first strategy has been implicated in rebound/withdrawal symptoms and emergence/exacerbation of symptoms, whereas the gradual approach is thought to pose a risk of additive or synergistic side effects if employed in the context of a crossover approach.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials examining immediate vs gradual antipsychotic discontinuation in antipsychotic switching in patients with schizophrenia and/or schizoaffective disorder were selected. Da

SUBMITTER: Takeuchi H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5472156 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature