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Old schizophrenia drug safer than newer meds: study
(Reuters) UPDATED 2009-07-12
Researchers in Finland have found that schizophrenia patients given the older drug clozapine (Clozaril) are less likely to die prematurely than those given newer drugs such as Seroquel and Zyprexa. For the study, investigators analyzed 10 years' worth of records for 67,000 schizophrenia patients. They found that compared to treatment with the first-generation drug perphenazine, the risk of early death for patients on Clozaril was reduced by 26 percent. But the death risk was 41 percent higher in patients taking Seroquel, 34 percent higher for those taking Risperdal, and 13 percent higher for those taking Zyprexa. Doctors have avoided prescribing Clozaril because of safety concerns and because patients taking it require regular blood tests. But experts say this study's findings may cause doctors to rethink the drug's benefits.
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