Switching outpatients between atypical antipsychotics

1. Some reports have suggested an increase in symptoms when switching patients with psychosis from clozapine to other atypical antipsychotics. 2. No data are available on switching between atypical antipsychotics other than clozapine, though this is common in clinical practice. 3. Six patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type were switched to quetiapine after finishing a clinical trial of sertindole. 4. During the observation period of two to ten weeks no subjects worsened and one improved. Side effects were mild. 5. These preliminary data suggest that switching between some atypical agents may be well tolerated. Larger controlled trials are needed to confirm this observation.