Is Polypharmacy Helpful?
A substantial proportion of patients are receiving multiple antipsychotics or combinations of antipsychotic and mood stabilizers. Unfortunately, despite a number of clinical trials in this area, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions.29,30 The meta-analyses that have been conducted did not strongly support the efficacy of these agents (eg, on benzodiazepines,31 beta-blockers,32 carbamazepine,33 electroconvulsive therapy,34 lithium,35); however, this does not mean that some patients would not derive benefit. The problem currently is that the degree of polypharmacy being practiced seems far in excess of the supporting data. (Polypharmacy is being employed to mitigate adverse effects as well, and this issue requires specific trials with appropriate designs.
