Clozapine-Associated Sialorrhea: A Literature Review.

Abstract

Background: Clozapine has demonstrated efficacy in treating treatment-resistant schizophrenia; however, it has a wide range of side effects. Sialorrhea is a common side effect of clozapine that causes the patient to withdraw from social life. This review aims to evaluate and summarize the prevalence, mechanism, risk factors, and management of clozapine-associated sialorrhea.

Procedures: The literature was explored for the prevalence, the mechanisms, the risk factors, and the management of sialorrhea. The following search strings and terms were used: "clozapine," "sialorrhea," "hypersalivation," "clozapine induced sialorrhea," and "clozapine induced hypersalivation".

Study results: Hypersalivation is one of the most common side effects of clozapine. Over the course of clozapine therapy, hypersalivation has been reported to have an incidence of 30% to -80%. Although different treatment approaches are applied on a case-by-case basis in the clinic, depending on the practitioners' preferences, there is a lack of clear guidelines for managing this common side effect that jeopardizes patients' social life.

Conclusions: It is important for healthcare professionals and patients that some clear treatment options for clozapine-associated sialorrhea are brought to the forefront and widely used, especially based on the research conducted to date.