Adverse events after antipsychotic discontinuation: an individual participant data meta-analysis

Withdrawal syndrome after antipsychotics discontinuation: an analysis of the WHO database of spontaneous reports (Vigibase) between 2000 and 2022

RATIONALE

Withdrawal syndrome (WDS) has been described after discontinuation of antipsychotics. WDS could be the consequence of an over-activation of the dopaminergic pathway. Antipsychotics with a higher affinity for dopamine D2 receptors could be associated with a higher risk of WDS. This study aims to address this statement and evaluate the risk difference for withdrawal syndrome between antipsychotics based on pharmacovigilance data.

METHODS

We collected individual reports registered in Vigibase® between 01/01/2000 and 31/12/2022 of patients treated with antipsychotics and who had presented WDS. A disproportionality analysis was performed to evaluate the risk of reporting WDS with each antipsychotic compared to all other antipsychotics. We performed a correlation analysis to assess the correlation between the risk of reporting WDS for each antipsychotic in relation with their pKi for D2 and 5HT2A receptors.

RESULTS

The most frequent psychiatric withdrawal symptoms after antipsychotic discontinuation were insomnia, anxiety and depression. Tremor, headache and dizziness were among the most frequently reported neurologic withdrawal symptoms. Tiotixene had the highest risk of reporting WDS (ROR 7.08; 95%CI 3.49 - 14.35) followed by pimozide (ROR 4.35; 95%CI 1.93 - 9.77), quetiapine (ROR 4.24; 95%CI 3.87 - 4.64), thioridazine (ROR 4.17; 95%CI 2.50-6.98) and ziprasidone (ROR 2.98; 95%CI 2.41-3.67). We found a poor correlation between D2/5HT2A binding affinity and the risk of reporting withdrawal syndrome (R2 = 0,094).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that there might be a risk difference for WDS between antipsychotics. Tiotixene, pimozide and quetiapine were associated with a higher risk of reporting a WDS whereas this risk was lower with chlorpromazine, clozapine and fluphenazine. We could not address the issue of withdrawal psychosis, withdrawal dyskinesia, rebound psychosis or supersensitivity psychosis due to the lack of specific WHO medDRA coded terms to identify potential cases.

Discontinuation of psychotropic medication: a synthesis of evidence across medication classes

Pharmacotherapy is an effective treatment modality across psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, many patients discontinue their medication at some point. Evidence-based guidance for patients, clinicians, and policymakers on rational discontinuation strategies is vital to enable the best, personalized treatment for any given patient. Nonetheless, there is a scarcity of guidelines on discontinuation strategies. In this perspective, we therefore summarize and critically appraise the evidence on discontinuation of six major psychotropic medication classes: antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers, opioids, and stimulants. For each medication class, a wide range of topics pertaining to each of the following questions are discussed: (1) Who can discontinue (e.g., what are risk factors for relapse?); (2) When to discontinue (e.g., after 1 year or several years of antidepressant use?); and (3) How to discontinue (e.g., what's the efficacy of dose reduction compared to full cessation and interventions to mitigate relapse risk?). We thus highlight how comparing the evidence across medication classes can identify knowledge gaps, which may pave the way for more integrated research on discontinuation.

Targeted Treatment of Schizophrenia Symptoms as They Manifest, or Continuous Treatment to Reduce the Risk of Psychosis Recurrence

Current pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia employs drugs that interfere with dopamine neurotransmission, aiming to suppress acute exacerbation of psychosis and maintenance treatment to reduce the risk of psychosis recurrence. According to this treatment scheme, available psychotropic drugs intended to treat negative symptoms, cognitive impairment, or anxiety are administered as add-ons to treatment with antipsychotics. However, an alternative treatment scheme proposes a targeted or intermittent treatment approach, by which antipsychotic drugs are administered upon psychosis exacerbation and discontinued upon remission or stabilization, while negative symptoms, cognitive impairment, or anxiety are treated with specific psychotropics as monotherapy. Along these lines, antipsychotics are renewed only in the event of recurrence of psychotic symptoms. This 50-year-old debate between targeted and continuous treatment schemes arises from disagreements about interpreting scientific evidence and discordant views regarding benefit/risk assessment. Among the debate's questions are: (1) what is the percentage of individuals who can maintain stability without antipsychotic maintenance treatment, and what is the percentage of those who exacerbate despite antipsychotic treatment? (2) how to interpret results of placebo-controlled 9- to 18-month-long maintenance trials in a life-long chronic disorder, and how to interpret results of the targeted trials, some of which are open label or not randomized; (3) how to weigh the decreased risk for psychotic recurrence vs the almost certainty of adverse effects on patient's quality of life. Patients' profiles, preferences, and circumstances of the care provision should be considered as the targeted vs continuous treatment options are considered.

Relapse in clinically stable adult patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder: evidence-based criteria derived by equipercentile linking and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus on defining relapse in schizophrenia, and scale-derived criteria with unclear clinical relevance are widely used. We aimed to develop an evidence-based scale-derived set of criteria to define relapse in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

METHODS

We searched the Yale University Open Data Access (YODA) for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in clinically stable adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and obtained individual participant data on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression Severity (CGI-S), Personal and Social Performance (PSP), and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). Our main outcomes were PANSS-derived criteria based on worsening in PANSS total score. We examined their relevance using equipercentile linking with CGI-S and functioning scales, and their test-performance in defining relapse with diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis against CGI-S worsening (≥1-point increase together with a score ≥4 points) and psychiatric hospitalisation.

FINDINGS

Based on data from seven RCTs (2354 participants; 1348 men [57·3%] and 1006 women [42·7%], mean age of 39·5 years [SD 12·0, range 17-89]; 303 Asian [12.9%], 255 Black [10.8%], 1665 White [70.7%], and other or unspecified 131 [5.6%]), an increase of 12 points or more in PANSS total (range 30-210 points) corresponded to clinically important deterioration in global severity of illness (≥1 point increase in CGI-S, range 1-7) and functioning (≥10 points decline in PSP or SOFAS, range 1-100). The interpretation of percentage changes varied importantly across different baseline scores. An increase of 12 points or more in PANSS total had good sensitivity and specificity using CGI-S as reference standard (sensitivity 82·1% [95% CI 77·1-86·4], specificity 86·9% [82·9-90·3]), as well as good sensitivity but lower specificity compared to hospitalisation (sensitivity 81·7% [74·1-87·7], specificity 69·2% [60·5-76·9]). Requiring either an increase in PANSS total or in specific items for positive and disorganization symptoms further improved test-performance. Cutoffs for situations where high sensitivity or specificity is needed are presented.

INTERPRETATION

An increase of either 12 points or more in the PANSS total score, or worsening of specific positive and disorganisation symptom items could be a reasonable evidence-based definition of relapse in schizophrenia, potentially linking symptoms used to define remission and relapse. Percentage changes should not be used to define relapse because their interpretation depends on baseline scores.

FUNDING

German Research Foundation (grant number: 428509362).

Predictors of hospitalisation and recovery following full antipsychotic discontinuation in first episode psychosis. A naturalistic retrospective cohort study

Whilst antipsychotic medication reduces risk of relapse following a first episode of psychosis (FEP), some individuals can discontinue medication and remain relapse free. We aimed to identify patient and service-specific factors which influence clinical outcome following antipsychotic discontinuation. The outcomes 'admission to hospital' and 'remaining free from psychotic symptoms', both within one year from discontinuation, were explored retrospectively in an established naturalistic cohort of 354 patients with FEP. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore influence of routinely available baseline and treatment course variables on these outcomes. Seventy-seven individuals (22 %) fully discontinued antipsychotic treatment within a year, at mean 102 days from initiation. Only antipsychotic type had significant association with discontinuation; aripiprazole was discontinued more than olanzapine (p = 0.028). Seventeen individuals required admission to hospital; significantly associated with prior admission at first illness onset (p = 0.004), and prior legal detention to hospital (p = 0.001). Admission was less likely in those discontinuing aripiprazole vs olanzapine (p = 0.044). Twenty-four patients remained psychosis symptom free and were most significantly likely to have received clinician support in discontinuation; this group had no association with either initial duration of untreated psychosis or prior duration of antipsychotic treatment. Future studies exploring outcomes following antipsychotic discontinuation require consistency of choice of outcome measures and sample stratification by vulnerability factors including severity of first illness episode, whether remaining symptom free after first episode, which medication switched from and baseline functioning. The impact and nature of clinician support to discontinue requires further exploration alongside its association with abruptness of discontinuation.

Predicting psychotic relapse following randomised discontinuation of paliperidone in individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder: an individual participant data analysis

BACKGROUND

Predicting relapse for individuals with psychotic disorders is not well established, especially after discontinuation of antipsychotic treatment. We aimed to identify general prognostic factors of relapse for all participants (irrespective of treatment continuation or discontinuation) and specific predictors of relapse for treatment discontinuation, using machine learning.

METHODS

For this individual participant data analysis, we searched the Yale University Open Data Access Project's database for placebo-controlled, randomised antipsychotic discontinuation trials with participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (aged ≥18 years). We included studies in which participants were treated with any antipsychotic study drug and randomly assigned to continue the same antipsychotic drug or to discontinue it and receive placebo. We assessed 36 prespecified baseline variables at randomisation to predict time to relapse, using univariate and multivariate proportional hazard regression models (including multivariate treatment group by variable interactions) with machine learning to categorise the variables as general prognostic factors of relapse, specific predictors of relapse, or both.

FINDINGS

We identified 414 trials, of which five trials with 700 participants (304 [43%] women and 396 [57%] men) were eligible for the continuation group and 692 participants (292 [42%] women and 400 [58%] men) were eligible for the discontinuation group (median age 37 [IQR 28-47] years for continuation group and 38 [28-47] years for discontinuation group). Out of the 36 baseline variables, general prognostic factors of increased risk of relapse for all participants were drug-positive urine; paranoid, disorganised, and undifferentiated types of schizophrenia (lower risk for schizoaffective disorder); psychiatric and neurological adverse events; higher severity of akathisia (ie, difficulty or inability to sit still); antipsychotic discontinuation; lower social performance; younger age; lower glomerular filtration rate; benzodiazepine comedication (lower risk for anti-epileptic comedication). Out of the 36 baseline variables, predictors of increased risk specifically after antipsychotic discontinuation were increased prolactin concentration, higher number of hospitalisations, and smoking. Both prognostic factors and predictors with increased risk after discontinuation were oral antipsychotic treatment (lower risk for long-acting injectables), higher last dosage of the antipsychotic study drug, shorter duration of antipsychotic treatment, and higher score on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) severity scale The predictive performance (concordance index) for participants who were not used to train the model was 0·707 (chance level is 0·5).

INTERPRETATION

Routinely available general prognostic factors of psychotic relapse and predictors specific for treatment discontinuation could be used to support personalised treatment. Abrupt discontinuation of higher dosages of oral antipsychotics, especially for individuals with recurring hospitalisations, higher scores on the CGI severity scale, and increased prolactin concentrations, should be avoided to reduce the risk of relapse.

FUNDING

German Research Foundation and Berlin Institute of Health.

Second-generation antipsychotics and seizures - a systematic review and meta-analysis of serious adverse events in randomized controlled trials

Seizures are suspected to be side effects of antipsychotics. To examine a possible causal relationship, we compared the risk of seizures on second-generation antipsychotics to the risk on placebo in randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) across diagnostic groups. The primary outcome was any seizure reported as International Conference on Harmonisation-Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP)-defined serious adverse event (SAEs). The risk ratio (RR) with antipsychotics versus placebo was synthesized in a pairwise common effects Mantel-Haenszel meta-analysis. For 314 of 597 idenitified placebo-controlled RCTs information about all SAEs could be retrieved from publications, original investigators, pharmaceutical companies and the European Medical Agency. In those, 37 seizures occurred in 42,600 participants on antipsychotics (0.09%) and 28 in 25,042 participants on placebo (0.11%). The meta-analytic results (RR 0,68; 95% Confidence Interval 0.41-1.12) indicated a reduced risk on antipsychotics with a confidence interval including no difference (i.e. RR=1). Neither in sensitivity analyses (excluding events in the safety-follow-up of trials or first-generation antipsychotics; using odds ratios) nor in subgroup analyses (on specific antipsychotics, drug combinations, diagnostic categories, age groups, and study duration) there was evidence for an increased risk on antipsychotics, except for some weak indications of an increased risk on antipsychotics in older and/or demented participants (RRs 1.11 and 1.48, respectively, but with 95% CIs of 0.35-3.49 and 0.41-5.26 including no difference and subgroup tests with p=0.54 and p=0.66 not indicating differences between age groups or diagnostic categories). Consequently, there are no indications that second-generation antipsychotics cause seizures in middle-aged adults and children in most diagnostic groups; rather our results provide some weak evidence for a protective effect. However, there was no data on SAEs available for clozapine, for which observational studies provide the strongest associations with increased seizure rates, and for older and/or demented patients a small additional risk on antipsychotics cannot be excluded.

Risk Factors for Psychotic Relapse After Dose Reduction or Discontinuation of Antipsychotics in Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia. A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Although maintenance treatment with antipsychotics protects against psychotic relapse, high doses may hamper recovery. Therefore, dose reduction or discontinuation may be considered in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Here, we identified risk factors for psychotic relapse when doses are reduced.

STUDY DESIGN

We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO from January 1950 through January 2021 and reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported relapse rates after antipsychotic dose reduction or discontinuation in patients with chronic schizophrenia. We calculated relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) per person-year and sought to identify potential risk factors for relapse. The study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017058296).

STUDY RESULTS

Forty-seven RCTs (54 patient cohorts, 1746 person-years) were included. The RR for psychotic relapse with dose reduction/discontinuation versus maintenance treatment was 2.3 per person-year (95% CI: 1.9 to 2.8). The RR was higher with antipsychotic discontinuation, dose reduction to less than 3-5 mg haloperidol equivalent (HE), or relatively rapid dose reduction (<10 weeks). The RR was lower with long-acting injectable agents versus oral antipsychotic dose reduction. Other factors that increased the risk of psychotic relapse were younger age and short follow-up time.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should take several risk factors for psychotic relapse into account when considering dose reduction in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Studies of a relatively fast reduction in antipsychotic dose support a minimum dose of 3-5 mg HE. However, if the dose is tapered more gradually, relapses related to medication withdrawal might be avoided, possibly enabling lower-end doses to be achieved.

The experiences of 585 people when they tried to withdraw from antipsychotic drugs

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72% of an international sample of 585 antipsychotics users report withdrawal effects when they try to stop taking them.

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none recall being told anything about withdrawal effects, dependence, rebound psychosis, the need to reduce gradually, by the prescriber.

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26% report positive effects of withdrawing, such as feeling more alive and more like themselves.

Introduction

Many recipients of antipsychotic drugs try to stop taking them, primarily because of distressing adverse effects. Little research has been undertaken into the withdrawal symptoms that ensue.

Methods

In an online survey 585 antipsychotic users, from 29 countries, who had tried to stop taking the drugs, were asked specific questions about the process and the open question: ‘What were the effects of withdrawing from the medication?’ 44% had a diagnosis in the ‘schizophrenia’ spectrum.

Results

Responding to specific questions, 72% reported classical withdrawal effects of the kind associated with other central nervous system medications, including nausea, tremors, anxiety, agitation and headaches. 52% of these categorized those effects as ‘severe’. 26% had tried four or more times to discontinue, and 23% took at least one year to successfully withdraw completely. In response to the open question, 73% reported one or more withdrawal effects, most frequently, insomnia, nervousness and extreme feelings; 26% reported one or more positive outcomes, most frequently more energy/alive and clearer thinking; and 18% reported psychosis.

Conclusion

These findings are consistent with a small but growing body of literature on this topic. Prescribers need to inform themselves about the nature, frequency and intensity of withdrawal effects from APs, and about withdrawal psychosis. National guidelines, professional bodies’ statements, and drug company information urgently need to be updated to prevent the suffering that can occur when withdrawal is minimised, misunderstood or unsupported.