Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Clozapine-induced electroencephalogram changes as a function of clozapine serum levels.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Freudenreich, O; Weiner, RD; McEvoy, JP
Published in: Biol Psychiatry
July 15, 1997

Specific electroencephalogram (EEG) changes during clozapine therapy were prospectively studied in a cohort of 50 chronic state hospital patients with schizophrenia who were randomly assigned to one of three nonoverlapping clozapine serum level ranges (50-150 ng/mL, 200-300 ng/mL, and 350-450 ng/mL). EEGs were obtained before clozapine was instituted, and after 10 weeks of treatment. Fifty-three percent of patients showed EEG changes during the 10-week study period. We observed three seizures (6%), one in a patient on 900 mg (serum level 320 ng/mL) clozapine, and two in patients with lower clozapine serum levels (200-300 ng/mL) who had prior histories of seizures and inadequate valproate coverage. Thirteen percent of patients developed spikes with no relationship to dose or serum level of clozapine. Fifty-three percent of patients developed slowing on EEG. Compared to plasma levels below 300 ng/mL, a clozapine serum level between 350 and 450 ng/mL led to more frequent and more severe slowing. The EEG slowing correlated with observed sleepiness, although this factor was not sufficient to explain the severity of high-dose effects.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0006-3223

Publication Date

July 15, 1997

Volume

42

Issue

2

Start / End Page

132 / 137

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Seizures
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Schizophrenia
  • Psychotic Disorders
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Prospective Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Freudenreich, O., Weiner, R. D., & McEvoy, J. P. (1997). Clozapine-induced electroencephalogram changes as a function of clozapine serum levels. Biol Psychiatry, 42(2), 132–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3223(96)00298-3
Freudenreich, O., R. D. Weiner, and J. P. McEvoy. “Clozapine-induced electroencephalogram changes as a function of clozapine serum levels.Biol Psychiatry 42, no. 2 (July 15, 1997): 132–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3223(96)00298-3.
Freudenreich O, Weiner RD, McEvoy JP. Clozapine-induced electroencephalogram changes as a function of clozapine serum levels. Biol Psychiatry. 1997 Jul 15;42(2):132–7.
Freudenreich, O., et al. “Clozapine-induced electroencephalogram changes as a function of clozapine serum levels.Biol Psychiatry, vol. 42, no. 2, July 1997, pp. 132–37. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/S0006-3223(96)00298-3.
Freudenreich O, Weiner RD, McEvoy JP. Clozapine-induced electroencephalogram changes as a function of clozapine serum levels. Biol Psychiatry. 1997 Jul 15;42(2):132–137.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0006-3223

Publication Date

July 15, 1997

Volume

42

Issue

2

Start / End Page

132 / 137

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Seizures
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Schizophrenia
  • Psychotic Disorders
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Prospective Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans