The Psychiatric clinics of North America
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Clozapine is a great advance in the treatment of schizophrenia. It should be tried in any neuroleptic-resistant schizophrenic as well as some who are neuroleptic intolerant. If progress is made in controlling its agranulocytosis, clozapine could be the drug of choice for all types of schizophrenia and perhaps other conditions as well for which neuroleptic drugs are employed, e.g., mania resistant to mood stabilizers. ⋯ How much better tolerated it is than currently available drugs, especially thioridazine, is not clear. Many other novel agents are being tested. Clinicians will be challenged to follow this emerging field closely and identify the most promising new agents that may be indicated for specific stages of, or subtypes of, schizophrenia.