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Increased risk of extrapyramidal side‐effect treatment associated with atypical antipsychotic polytherapy
Author(s) -
Carnahan R. M.,
Lund B. C.,
Perry P. J.,
Chrischilles E. A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00589.x
Subject(s) - antipsychotic , medicine , risk factor , odds ratio , logistic regression , atypical antipsychotic , extrapyramidal symptoms , risperidone , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychiatry
Objective: To determine whether atypical antipsychotic polytherapy is a risk factor for drug treatment for extrapyramidal side‐effects (anti‐EPS drugs) and whether the risk is attributable to antipsychotic dose. Method: We studied Iowa Medicaid beneficiaries aged 18–64 years with an active atypical and no conventional antipsychotic on January 1, 2001. The association of atypical antipsychotic polytherapy with anti‐EPS drug treatment was determined. Multiple logistic regression was utilized to adjust for covariates in two models, the first adjusting for age, sex and the specific antipsychotic(s) prescribed, and the second also adjusting for doses. Results: Among 4400 patients, the unadjusted odds of anti‐EPS treatment were increased two‐fold with polytherapy. Polytherapy remained a risk factor in the first model (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.0), but not after adjusting for doses (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.7–1.4). Conclusion: Atypical antipsychotic polytherapy is a risk factor for anti‐EPS drug treatment, apparently because of higher cumulative doses.