Psychiatry Investig.
2014 Oct;11(4):459-466. 10.4306/pi.2014.11.4.459.
The Effectiveness of Cross-Tapering Switching to Ziprasidone in Patients with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
- 2Department of Psychiatry, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
- 3Department of Psychiatry, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
- 4Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Guro Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- 5Department of Psychiatry, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Korea, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
- 6Department of Psychiatry, Hallym University College of Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- 7Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Republic of Korea. hanyjung@schmc.ac.kr
- KMID: 2316374
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2014.11.4.459
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Switching antipsychotics is one useful therapeutic option when the treatment of schizophrenia encounters suboptimal efficacy and intolerability issues. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of cross-tapering switching to ziprasidone from other antipsychotics.
METHODS
A total of 67 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were recruited in this 12-week, multicenter, non-comparative, open-label trial. Prior antipsychotics were allowed to be maintained for up to 4 weeks during the titration of ziprasidone. Efficacy was primarily measured using the 18-item Brief Psychotic Rating Scale (BPRS) at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. Efficacy was secondarily measured by the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale at each visit. Regarding the metabolic effects of switching to ziprasidone, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and lipid profile-including triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol levels-were measured at each follow-up visit.
RESULTS
The BPRS scores were significantly improved at 12 weeks after switching to ziprasidone (F=5.96, df=2.11, p=0.003), whereas the CGI-S and GAF scores were not significantly changed. BMIs, WHRs, and TG levels were significantly decreased, with no significant changes in other lipid profiles.
CONCLUSION
Cross-tapering switching to ziprasidone is effective for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Beyond the efficacy of the procedure, favorable metabolic profiles show that switching to ziprasidone may be helpful for maintenance therapy over an extended period.
Keyword
- Full Text Links
-
- Actions
-
Cited
- CITED
-
- Close
- Share
-
- Similar articles
-
- The Study for Switching Strategies from Previous Antipsychotics to Aripiprazole: A One-Year Naturalistic Study
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Body Weight Gain and Metabolic Changes in Patients with Schizophrenia during 12-Week Randomized Treatment of Ziprasidone and Risperidone
- Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome among Outpatients with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder
- Switching Antipsychotic Medications
