Introduction: The Art and Science of Switching Antipsychotic Medications

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There are many reasons for a physician in clinical practice to recommend that a patient change his or her antipsychotic medication. The simplest reason is lackof efficacy: after an appropriate trial at a sufficient dose, the medication fails to control the patient’s psychotic symptoms. Efficacy, however, exists on a continuum; a patient may experience symptom control from his or her antipsychotic, but yet not be able to function at the same level he or she did before the most recent relapse.’ ‹