Clozapine: a clinical review of adverse effects and management.

Clozapine (Clozaril) is a novel and unique prototype atypical, tricyclic, dibenzodiazepine-derivative, antipsychotic agent. It has been proven effective and significantly superior to placebo, as well as to conventional neuroleptics, in several placebo-controlled, double-blind studies in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. It has also been found to produce an incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) as low as that found with placebo.

Diazepam use during pregnancy: a review of the literature.

Antianxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (BZDs) are frequently and appropriately used to ameliorate the anxiety symptoms of depression, dysthymic disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, eating disorder, and many personality disorders. Pregnancy may be accompanied by anxiety necessitating therapeutic intervention by anxiolytic drugs like BZD. Keeping in view the potential risks of teratogenicity and direct neonatal toxicity, BZDs with established safety records should be used, while avoiding exposure in the first trimester, especially with multidrug regimens, and prescribing the lowest dose for the shortest duration.