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Clozapine Research Paper

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A drug in its most basic form is defined as “a substance that alters the physiology of the body” (McKim, 2007, p. 1) and is comprised of a chemical name, a generic name and trade name. The chemical name is used by chemists to identify what the molecules of a drug looks like while the generic name is a shorter version of the chemical name. The trade name on the other hand, is the property of the company that sells the drug. The effect of a drug is thought to be related to its concentration in the body and not to the absolute amount of drug administered.
Psychoactive drugs affect the biochemical interactions that take place in and between neurons. Side effects of drugs are predominantly produced by their actions in the peripheral nervous system …show more content…

Clozapine is considered to be the prototype of atypical antipsychotics and is the most effective antipsychotic drug. Clozapine is a low dopamine receptor and has been proven effective as a mood stabilizer in treating “bipolar disorders that have not responded to mood stabilizers” (Diamond, 2009, p. 72). Clozapine has side effects, inclusive of weight gain, metabolic syndrome and increased risk of diabetes. In addition, clozapine is associated with fatal heat stroke, seizures and loss of white blood cells (Diamond, 2009). To combat the risks of identifying side effects, clozapine is usually started at 12.5 or 25 mg/day with a gradual slow increase thereafter.
Risperidone on the other hand, is inexpensive, and is predominantly used to treat schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. It has, however, been thought to be effective in decreasing negative and cognitive symptoms and has demonstrated usefulness in treating bipolar disorder, some depression and anxiety conditions, and autism. Common side effects experienced with risperidone includes, weight gain and elevation of prolactin, which may result in amenorrhea in women and breast enlargement in men and …show more content…

More specifically, Bipolar disorder is defined in accordance with the DSM 5 as a prominent and persistent period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and abnormally increased activity or energy that predominates in the clinical picture; there is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the disturbance is the direct pathophysiological consequence of another medical condition; the disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder; the disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of delirium; and the disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, or necessitates hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features (DSM-5,

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