Posted by ed_uk on January 13, 2005, at 15:45:22
In reply to Re: ABILIFY or CLOZAPINE (which is better?), posted by pretty_paints on January 13, 2005, at 14:01:58
Hi Katie!!!
> Is Clozapine the only AP which is prescribed for a specific condition, instead of just general symptoms?
In the UK, clozapine *can* be prescribed for all forms of psychosis, not just schizophrenia. I don't know whether that is true in other countries. Because of its sometimes serious side effects, however, it is usually reserved for the treatment of severe resistant schizophrenia. Clozapine is occasionally prescribed for mania, psychotic depression and even borderline personality disorder.
>Why, for example, can't the pdoc just refuse to give me the Abilify because I haven't been diagnosed with schizophrenia?
Well, she could refuse if whe wanted to!
In the UK, once a medicine has received a marketing authorisation (a license) it can then be prescribed 'off-label' for any condition that the doctor feels might be helped eg. In the UK, Zispin is only approved for the treatment of depression, yet a doctor is permitted to prescribe it for any reason that they deem to be appropriate, such as anxiety. Some doctors don't like prescribing drugs 'off-label' because it increases the chance that they might be successfully sued if the patient suffered serious side effects!
Ed xx
poster:ed_uk
thread:441597
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050113/msgs/441707.html