Clozapine was prescribed to 75 patients (mean age 74.2 years, range 65-89) with doses ranging from 25-800 mg daily (mean 296 mg). Treatment was stopped within the review period in 37 (49%) cases. Reasons for discontinuation included death (n=14), non-fatal adverse events (n=12), patient choice (n=8) and other factors (n=3). While none of the 14 deaths could be linked directly to treatment, orthostatic hypotension might have contributed to a single fatal cerebrovascular accident. There were three cases of "red alert" leukopenia, none of which progressed to agranulocytosis. In general, side effects were more frequent than in a previous report concerning aged patients, most probably because clozapine doses were higher. CONCLUSIONS; Most of the adverse events leading to treatment cessation occurred within the first month, emphasising the need for slow titration. Strict monitoring procedures ensured that there were no fatal haematological adverse events.
Aim
The Alcohol‐Related Problems Survey (ARPS) reliably classifies drinking as non‐hazardous, hazardous or harmful using scoring algorithms that consider quantity and frequency of alcohol use alone and in combination with health conditions, medication‐use and functional status. Because it has been developed using a 14‐g US standard drink, it is not valid in Australia where a standard drink contains 10 g of ethanol.
Method
We recalibrated the ARPS scoring algorithms for a 10‐g Australian standard drink and updated the list of medications. The Australian ARPS (A‐ARPS) was then administered to 50 non‐treatment‐seeking participants in waves of five.
Results
The A‐ARPS recalibrated scoring algorithms reliably classified all 50 individuals. Sixty‐six per cent were classified as hazardous or harmful drinkers. Many were taking medications that interact with alcohol or had medical conditions that can be exacerbated by alcohol consumption.
Conclusion
The A‐ARPS is available for use in Australia. Its utilisation could reduce the incidence of alcohol‐related harms.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.