Plasma clozapine levels and clinical response in treatment-refractory Chinese schizophrenic patients.

Purpose: To evaluate clinical efficacy of clozapine in relation with its plasma level in a group of Chinese patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. In addition, the relationship between plasma level and side effects were examined.

Method: Fifty-one patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia were put on a fixed dose of clozapine at 300 mg/day for 6 weeks.