Clozapine as a treatment for psychosis in Parkinson's disease: a review.

Abstract

Psychotic symptoms such as visual hallucinations and delusions are a relatively common clinical problem in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). A dilemma arises in the treatment of psychosis in these patients 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 patients. The use of clozapine in these patients differs significantly, however, from its use in young, relatively healthy, treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients in the dosage required, side effects, and other aspects of management.