Structural formula of Clozapin in 2D
Clozapin is an atypical neuroleptic and has the lowest risk of causing EPS in that group.
Neuroleptics are used in the therapy of schizophrenia, because they are anti-psychotic and sedating. They can be divided into generations and can then be further devided by phamacological potency:
1st generation: - High potency neuroleptics (f.ex. Haloperidol, Fluphenazine, Perphenazine)
- low potency neuroleptics (f.ex. Promethazine, Melperone, Levomepromazine)
2nd generation: atypical neuroleptics (z.B. Olanzapine, Clozapine, Quetiapin, Risperidon)
Because psychoses are primarily the result of effects of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonine, their receptors in the CNS have to be inhibited for treatment.
Diffenrent active ingredients bind competitively to D2- (dopamine-) or 5HT2- (serotonin-) receptors and regulate as antagonists the influence of the neurotransmitters on the psyche.
Clozapin is such a dopamine-antagonist that blocks dopamine-receptors and reduces dopamine-effects. In the striatum it only blocks 40-60% and because of this causes less EPS than neuroleptics of similar potency.
Other receptors (in this case MACh, adrenal und histamine) are also activated which can cause additional side-effects.
There is a risk of agranulocytosis.
