Botox those Salivary Glands for a Better Look: A Superior Treatment for Clozapine-Induced Sialorrhea - Abstract
Clozapine is a unique antipsychotic with demonstrated efficacy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and mania, and aggression, suicide, or psychogenic
polydipsia related to schizophrenia. Sialorrhea, a common adverse effect, is often a barrier to clozapine treatment. Anticholinergic agents have limited
efficacy and carry elevated risks of constipation, bowel impaction, or ileus. Periodic injection of major salivary glands with botulinum neurotoxin has proven to
be a superior treatment option for clozapine-induced sialorrhea (CIS). This mini-review describes the viability and logistics involved in establishing a successful
botulinum treatment clinic in a forensic psychiatric hospital, including adequate administrative support and nursing staff, clinician training, educating treatment
providers about the availability and effectiveness of botulinum treatment for sialorrhea, and development of a clinic protocol (e.g., procedural elements and
relevant rating scales). Finally, botulinum treatment was evaluated to be cost-effective.