Obsessive-compulsive symptoms induced by clozapine negatively affect
treatment compliance. In some studies, clonazepam was shown to be
beneficial in obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, in literature there
are case reports of life-threatening complications associated with the
combined use of clozapine and benzodiazepines. In this article, the
efficacy and safety of the clonazepam augmentation were discussed
in two patients who had obsessive-compulsive symptoms induced by
clozapine. No life-threatening complications were detected during the
follow-up period of more than two years, and the patients benefited
dramatically from the addition of clonazepam. In treatment-resistant
patients, clonazepam can be used with close monitoring for obsessivecompulsive
symptoms associated with atypical antipsychotics.
Keywords: Atypical antipsychotics, clonazepam, clozapine, obsessivecompulsive
symptoms