Equivalent Occupancy of Dopamine D^sub 1^ and D^sub 2^ Receptors With Clozapine: Differentiation From Other Atypical Antipsychotics

Clozapine, the prototype of atypical antipsychotics, remains unique in its efficacy in the treatment of refractory schizophrenia where its affinity for dopamine D4 receptors, serotonin 5-HT24 receptor antagonism, effects on the noradrenergic system, and its relatively moderate occupancy of D2 recept...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe American journal of psychiatry Vol. 161; no. 9; p. 1620
Main Authors Tauscher, Johannes, Hussain, Tabasum, Agid, Ofer, N Paul L G Verhoeff
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington American Psychiatric Association 01.09.2004
Subjects
Medical treatment
Patients
Psychiatry
Schizophrenia
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Summary:Clozapine, the prototype of atypical antipsychotics, remains unique in its efficacy in the treatment of refractory schizophrenia where its affinity for dopamine D4 receptors, serotonin 5-HT24 receptor antagonism, effects on the noradrenergic system, and its relatively moderate occupancy of D2 receptors are unlikely to be the critical mechanism underlying its efficacy. In an attempt to elucidate the molecular/synaptic mechanism underlying clozapine's distinctiveness in refractory schizophrenia, Tauscher et al study the in vivo D1 and D2 receptor profile of clozapine compared with other atypical antipsychotics. The results convey that among the atypical antipsychotics, clozapine appears to have a simultaneous and equivalent occupancy of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors.
ISSN:0002-953X
1535-7228