2026 年 52 巻 9 号 p. 666-674
To address antipsychotic polypharmacy and high-dose usage, a dose-reduction protocol based on the safety correction of antipsychotics polypharmacy and high-dose (SCAP) method has been proposed. However, the SCAP method is not universally applicable. This study conducted a prescription survey focusing on medication reduction and tapering of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia and examined more effective and safer methods for medication reduction, tapering, and switching.
The study revealed that dose reduction was performed more rapidly than that recommended by the SCAP method. Patients who were administered higher chlorpromazine-equivalent doses underwent dose reduction more gradually than those administered lower equivalent doses. Patients receiving long-term high-dose antipsychotic treatment are at a higher risk of developing dopamine supersensitivity psychosis; therefore, gradual medication reduction, tapering, and switching are recommended to reduce this risk.
These findings suggest that medication reduction, tapering, or switching based on the SCAP method and adjusted for hospitalized patients can be completed safely at an early stage according to the individual dosage.
