Scoping review highlights clozapine's effectiveness in reducing substance use in treatment-resistant schizophrenia, suggesting educational barriers impede its use.
Key Points
Clozapine reduces substance use in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and shows efficacy regardless of prior substance use history.
One-third of individuals with schizophrenia face treatment-resistance, while clozapine remains underutilized despite its significant benefits.
This scoping review analyzed recent literature on clozapine, revealing its unique pharmacological effects contribute to improved outcomes in substance use disorders.
Clinical caution surrounding clozapine, mainly due to concerns over neutropenia and monitoring complexity, underscores the need for better physician training.