Comparison of psychotropic drug preferences and side effects in old and young patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

Purpose: The current study investigates the preferred psychotropic drug treatments and their tolerability in elderly patients (EP) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder compared to younger patients (YP).Materials and Methods: The study included 154 EP and 195 YP with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder admitted to the outpatient unit at a university hospital in the last decade. The medical records of the patients were reviewed. The types and doses of antipsychotic drugs used by each patient, use of other psychotropic drugs, ongoing complaints, drug-related side effects and compliance with treatment were also examined.Results: Second generation antipsychotic use was higher in YP (88% in YP, 80% in EP). Antipsychotic equivalent doses were found 266.63 mg in EP, 522.21 mg in YP, that also higher in the YP group. The use of clozapine (7% in EP, 37% in YP) and mood stabilizers (4.5% in EP, 18% in YP) were higher in YP. There was a higher rate of dose reduction of antipsychotic drugs in EP (21.5% in YP, 52% in EP). When the groups were compared in terms of the reasons of antipsychotic dose reduction, it was more frequent in EP due to side effects (21.4% in YP, 40% in EP), while the dose reduction due to remission was more common in YP (78.6% in YP, 60% in EP) .Conclusion: Lower doses of antipsychotics in EP suggests milder symptoms or lower tolerability. The higher clozapine and mood stabilizer use in YP can be explained by avoiding side effects like extrapyramidal, cardiovascular and metabolic side effects that are more frequent in EP.