Inflammation and clozapine concentrations

Although clozapine is highly effective in managing patients with treatment‐resistant schizophrenia, it possesses a highly variable pharmacokinetic profile influenced by multiple factors. These variables include altered metabolic status as a result of drug‐drug interactions, as well as patient‐specific factors such as smoking1 and infection.2 The mechanism of infection‐related changes in clozapine pharmacokinetics is thought to be related to release of inflammatory cytokines that act as inhibitors of cytochrome P‐450 enzymes.3,4 Two recent case reports discussed the occurrence of elevated serum clozapine concentrations in patients with inflammatory conditions.5

Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - March 9, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Y. W. Francis Lam Tags: Drug ‐Drug Interactions Source Type: research