Modernización del uso de la clozapina en Venezuela.

Modernizing the use of clozapine in Venezuela.

• Trino Baptista Fundación AMOR y Clínica NeuroOrigen, Querétaro, México https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6839-4614
• Antonio Guizar Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0661-0576

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54817/IC.v66n1a00

Abstract

Until few years ago, clozapine (CLZ) was scarcely used in psychiatric patients in Venezuela, even when it was an effective antipsychotic drug in severe mental disorders. This was mainly due to the severe adverse effects (AEs) sometimes occurring during CLZ treatment, and unpredictable drug availability. Even though Venezuela leads South American countries in the number of high-quality published studies about the drug’s AEs, local clinicians are still reluctant to its use. Recent knowledge in CLZ pharmacokinetics allows a safer administration. Our research group has promoted an education program about CLZ use in Venezuela, but few colleagues’ have answered our request. We hope this Editorial will improve this attitude, which may lead to improving life quality in psychiatric and neurological patients with severe disorders.

References

Leung JG, de Leon J, Frye MA, Singh B, Cotes RO, McElroy SL. The modernization of clozapine: a recapitulation of the past in the United States and the view forward. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2022; 42: 565–580. doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0000000000001606.

Baptista T, Motuca M, Serrano A, Perez Lo Presti A, Fernandez-Arana A, Olmos I, Pabon A, Yepez JGA, Alejo Galarza GJ, Rivera Ramirez NM, Elkis H, Sanz EJ, De Las Cuevas C, de Leon J. An expert review of clozapine in Latin American countries: use, monitoring, and pharmacovigilance. Schizophr Res 2024; 268: 60-65. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.10.025.

de Leon J, Schoretsanitis G, Smith RL, Molden E, Solismaa A, Seppälä N, et al. An international adult guideline for making clozapine titration safer by using six ancestry-based personalized dosing titrations, CRP, and clozapine levels. Pharmacopsychiatry 2022 ;55: 73-86. doi.org/10.1055/a-1625-6388.

de Leon J, Baptista T, Motuca M, Ruan CJ, Schoretsanitis G, De Las Cuevas C. Promoting safer clozapine dosing in the Americas. Braz J Psychiatry. 2022; 44:363-365. doi: 10.47626/1516-4446-2021-0041.

Baptista T, Serrano A, Presti APL, Fernandez-Arana A, Elkis H, Motuca M, Olmos I, Schoretsanitis G. Clozapine safety monitoring and related research in psychiatry and neurology in South America: A scoping review. Schizophr Res 2024; 268: 29-33. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.07.029.