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Valproate as prophylaxis for clozapine-induced seizures: survey of practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Anna Sparshatt ,
Eromona Whiskey  and
David Taylor
David Taylor
Affiliation:
Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ, email: David.Taylor@slam.nhs.uk
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Abstract

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Aims and Method

To evaluate the prescribing of valproate in clozapine-treated individuals who may be at risk of seizure. We collected point-prevalent clinical characteristics and demographics of all in-patients prescribed clozapine in an acute mental health trust. Data were collected from case notes, electronic records and drug charts, and analysed against a set audit standard.

Results

Data were collected for 81 in-patients. Of all deemed to be at risk of seizure (n=37) only 24% were prescribed valproate at a therapeutic plasma level.

Clinical Implications

The majority of patients prescribed clozapine at risk of seizures were not adequately protected from this risk. Clear guidelines are required.

Information

Type
Original papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 32 , Issue 7 , July 2008 , pp. 262 - 265
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2008

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