Clonidine Treatment of Clozapine-Induced Hypersalivation

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hypersalivation can be a troublesome side effect of clozapine, limiting its usefulness in the management some cases of schizophrenia. But the pharmacodynamic basis of clozapine-induced hypersalivation remains obscure. Object The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the alpha2-adrenergic agonist clonidine on clozapin-induced hypersalivation in the patients who were receiving clozapine. METHOD: Twenty one schizophrenic inpatients on clozapine participated in the study. The amount of saliva was measur on the 7th day at 8pm after starting clozapine treatment. Of them, 15 patients who had experienced hypersalivation treated with 0.1mg/day of clonidine. RESULT: Of 21 schizophrenic patients treated with clozapine in the psychiatric inpatients clinic, 15(71.4%) complain hypervalivation. After clonidine treatment, mean salivary flow-rate was decreased significantly in these patients. CONCLUSION: Clozapine-induced hypersalivation could be decreased by administration of alpha2-adrenergic agonist clonidine are compliance could be improved. Also our study supports the notion that increased adrenergic tone contributes to clozapine induce hypersalivation.