clozapine and Stuttering

Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Clozapine; Depressive Disorder, Major; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Stuttering; Treatment Outcome

Stuttering is a rare side effect of clozapine. It has been shown to occur in the presence of one or more factors such as abnormal electrophysiological findings and seizures, extrapyramidal symptoms, brain pathology, and a family history of stuttering. Few case reports have documented the occurrence of clozapine-induced stuttering in the absence of these risk factors.. A 29-year-old African male on clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia presented with stuttering at a dosage of 400 mg/day that resolved with dose reduction. Electroencephalogram findings were normal, and there was no clinical evidence of seizures. The patient had no prior history or family history of stuttering, had a normal neurological examination, and showed no signs of extrapyramidal symptoms.. Clinicians ought to be aware of stuttering as a side effect of clozapine, even in the absence of known risk factors. Further research should investigate the pathophysiology of clozapine-induced stuttering.

Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Clozapine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Male; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia; Stuttering

Topics: Adolescent; Antipsychotic Agents; Clomipramine; Clozapine; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Humans; Male; Myoclonus; Schizophrenia; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Stuttering

Topics: Antipsychotic Agents; Clozapine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Epilepsies, Myoclonic; Humans; Male; Schizophrenia; Stuttering; Tics; Valproic Acid

Drug-induced stuttering has been described in association with several drugs, in particular antidepressants and low-potency neuroleptics. Here we describe a case series of stuttering induced by the atypical neuroleptics olanzapine and clozapine. Patients receiving neuroleptic treatment were carefully screened for stuttering as a possible side effect. We have studied all patients in the outpatient department (800 per year) as well as most inpatients (1300 per year) within 3 years. Seven cases of drug-induced stuttering were observed. Six patients suffered from stuttering in association with olanzapine treatment, and one received clozapine. Stuttering arose on average 2-21 days after initiation of treatment and ceased 2-5 days after discontinuation. Most patients suffered from additional diseases, such as brain pathology due to cortical atrophy or celiac disease, or received concomitant medication (i.e. intrathecal morphine pump). Our case series suggests that the atypical neuroleptic olanzapine can induce stuttering in the absence of a history of stuttering without accompanying akathisia or general decline of function. It appears that preexisting brain pathology or concomitant anti-depressant medication might predispose some patients to this side effect.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Clozapine; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Olanzapine; Retrospective Studies; Schizophrenia; Stuttering

Topics: Adult; Clozapine; Electroencephalography; Humans; Male; Schizophrenia, Paranoid; Seizures; Stuttering

Topics: Anticonvulsants; Antipsychotic Agents; Brain; Clozapine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy, Generalized; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Phenytoin; Schizophrenia, Paranoid; Stuttering; Valproic Acid

Topics: Adult; Clozapine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Psychotic Disorders; Stuttering

Topics: Adult; Clozapine; Dystonia; Female; Humans; Kindling, Neurologic; Schizophrenia, Paranoid; Seizures; Stuttering