January 29, 2007
Genetic Test for Predicting Risk From Clozapine Becomes Available
Clinical Data, Inc. issued a press release announcing that its PGxHealth division, provider of Therapeutic Diagnostics, has launched a new test, PGxPredict:CLOZAPINE, a pharmacogenetic test designed to aid physicians prescribing or considering prescribing clozapine.
Clozapine, considered to be an effective treatment for refractory schizophrenia, carries a significant risk of agranulocytosis, a rare but life-threatening depletion of white blood cells.
The PGxPredict:CLOZAPINE test helps to provide patients with specific information about their probability of developing agranulocytosis in response to clozapine.
The test is intended to be used as an adjunct to existing clinical information to aid in determining the risk of developing Clozapine-Induced Agranulocytosis (CIA) and in determining the risk-benefit ratio of treatment with clozapine.
PGxPredict:CLOZAPINE places patients into one of two categories: Higher Risk or Lower Risk, through the analysis of a simple blood sample and the genotyping of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene HLADQB1. This gene has been shown by PGxHealth to be associated with CIA in 2 independent casecontrol cohorts.
Based on these studies, Higher Risk patients have a 2.5 relative risk of developing CIA in comparison to general clozapine-treated patients, while Lower Risk patients have a 0.5 relative risk.
Read the full press release: Clinical Data Launches Pharmacogenetic Test for
Clozapine-Induced Agranulocytosis on Schedule
Additional Reading:
Validation of Genetic Biomarker for Determining Risk of Clozapine Induced Agranulocytosis
Theragenetics for Schizophrenia Diagnostics
Future Clozapine Compatibility Genetic Test
More information on Clozaril/Clozapine
CATIE Trials Information on Clozaril
Study Suggests Newer Drugs not Better than Older Drugs
Posted by Jeanie Wolfson at January 29, 2007 04:16 PM
More Information on
Schizophrenia Medications
Comments
my son is using leponex for 2 years, i think it is the best drug but it has many side effects especially weigth gain slepness, does anyone have any idea, how to overcome this side effects?
Posted by: ilker at January 30, 2007 01:59 AM
Of course, you and your son should discuss this with his doctor.
You can also post this question on a Discussion board, such as by clicking on the Parents board link (http://66.160.133.190:8080/~parents) or the Main Discussion Area (http://66.160.133.190:8080/~szmain)
Also, by doing a search in these news archives ( http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews ) using words like "weight", "sleep", or "hypersomnia" may turn up some useful information as well.
There are articles such as Metformin helping to stop the weight gain in pediatric patients (http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/004306.html) and you can get some tips from http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/004252.html, but some people do need to switch their medications because the bad side effects may outweigh the good benefits.
Posted by: Jeanie at January 30, 2007 06:06 AM
As the patent for Clozaril/clozapine is expiring the MNC drug lobby is working overtime to create terror about AGRONULOCYTOSIS , a condition which is also prevalent in other anti/psychotics as a sideffect. CLOZAPINE IS THE BEST drug available and it should eb FIRST DRUG OF CHOICE with low doses as in switzerland.In US it is the drug of last choice with starting dosage as high as 400 mgs per day to going upto 800mgs perday.in switzerland a dosage of 50mg is considered HIGH!!!!!!!AT 50MG THERE IS NO NEED FOR PACITANE,NO AGRANULOCYSOSIS,NOWEIGHTGAIN.
Posted by: captainjohann, BANGALORE, INDIA at February 1, 2007 06:52 AM
hi captainjohann,
am i true that you say a dosage of 50mg/day clozapine is sufficient?. if it is so this is great but i'm doubtful on that.
Posted by: ilker at February 5, 2007 01:59 AM
Post a comment
my son is using leponex for 2 years, i think it is the best drug but it has many side effects especially weigth gain slepness, does anyone have any idea, how to overcome this side effects?
Posted by: ilker at January 30, 2007 01:59 AM
Of course, you and your son should discuss this with his doctor.
You can also post this question on a Discussion board, such as by clicking on the Parents board link (http://66.160.133.190:8080/~parents) or the Main Discussion Area (http://66.160.133.190:8080/~szmain)
Also, by doing a search in these news archives ( http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews ) using words like "weight", "sleep", or "hypersomnia" may turn up some useful information as well.
There are articles such as Metformin helping to stop the weight gain in pediatric patients (http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/004306.html) and you can get some tips from http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/004252.html, but some people do need to switch their medications because the bad side effects may outweigh the good benefits.
Posted by: Jeanie at January 30, 2007 06:06 AM
As the patent for Clozaril/clozapine is expiring the MNC drug lobby is working overtime to create terror about AGRONULOCYTOSIS , a condition which is also prevalent in other anti/psychotics as a sideffect. CLOZAPINE IS THE BEST drug available and it should eb FIRST DRUG OF CHOICE with low doses as in switzerland.In US it is the drug of last choice with starting dosage as high as 400 mgs per day to going upto 800mgs perday.in switzerland a dosage of 50mg is considered HIGH!!!!!!!AT 50MG THERE IS NO NEED FOR PACITANE,NO AGRANULOCYSOSIS,NOWEIGHTGAIN.
Posted by: captainjohann, BANGALORE, INDIA at February 1, 2007 06:52 AM
hi captainjohann,
am i true that you say a dosage of 50mg/day clozapine is sufficient?. if it is so this is great but i'm doubtful on that.
Posted by: ilker at February 5, 2007 01:59 AM