Supportive Material
Highlights, Berlin
Anthony Hale from UK chaired the Serdolect symposium: Best practice management of schizophrenia in Berlin 14 April 2007. It was a very informative meeting, addressing issues ranging from caregiver and patient expectations of mental health services, through physical health issues and the translation of schizophrenia research to best practice, to the use of Serdolect in clinical practice.
"I have been prescribing sertindole since 1992, and all my patients like it. Its efficacy against both positive and negative symptoms and lack of unpleasant side effects such as major weight gain, sedation, EPS, and sexual dysfunction means compliance is good and I am delighted to be able to use it again." Anthony Hale
Sedation leaflet
The leaflet focuses on sedation and switch. Antipsychotic treatment may lead to sedated patients experiencing impaired cognition, inactive life-style, risk of weight gain, and reduced libido - factors, which are likely to decrease treatment outcome.
By switching off sedation and switching on efficacy, patients will benefit from improved cognition, limited weight gain, and maintained sexual function - factors likely to improve on treatment outcome.
Excessive daytime sleepiness is associated with significant impairment in function and well-being. Serdolect is the only non-sedative antipsychotic - and by switching to Serdolect - you switch to active patients.
Cognition leaflet
The leaflet focuses on cognition and switch. Antipsychotics with intrinsic anticholinergic properties, anticholinergic medications, EPS, and sedation are impairing cognitive function, e.g. attention, working memory, executive function, verbal fluency, and information process speed.
Serdolect improves cognitive processing independently of motor function, and is the only atypical schizophrenia treatment with placebo-level EPS, lack of anticholinergic properties, and lack of sedation.
Although sedation can be therapeutically desirable in the short-term, persistent long-term sedation is usually a problem because it interferes with cognition and social and vocational functioning.
Dosage guide
This guide provides information on the titration scheme for Serdolect, and how to switch to Serdolect from oral and depot medication.
Previous medication should be withdrawn abruptly (except clozapine), as this minimises interactions. Numerous studies with antipsychotics do not favour one switching option from another.
Product Monograph (4.8 MB)
The monograph covers introduction, overview, chemistry, preclinical profile, clinical pharmacology, clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability, pharmacoepidemiology, health economics, practicalities, summary, references, and the SPC.
Summary of product characteristics
The core SPC provides important information on ECG monitoring and the safety measures, physicians should comply with prior to prescribing Serdolect and during treatment. Please note that intolerance to a drug may be caused by insufficient efficacy, side effects, or poor compliance.
Serdolect lifeline
This leaflet provides psychiatrists with information on the most important milestones in the history of Serdolect, the benefits associated with Serdolect, and the Lundbeck commitments.
Serdolect master detail aid (1.5 MB)
The master detail aid provides psychiatrists with detailed information on clinical data, suitable patient profiles, key messages, and reasons for switching patients to Serdolect.
Prescribing Aid
Use this guide to help you in the prescription of Serdolect for schizophrenia treatment. It contains a convenient checklist of contraindication and special precautions.
Basic leaflet
This basic leaflet summaries the main benefits of switching to Serdolect with respect to efficacy, sedation, EPS, weight gain, cognition, and sexual function.
Patient educational leaflet
The patient leaflet is intended as a useful tool for psychiatrists, when informing patients about schizophrenia and relevant Serdolect topics.
Atypical antipsychotics in schizophrenia - a short guide
In order to achieve successful treatment and long-term compliance, it is crucial to assess the risks and benefits of available treatments and individual patient needs. This booklet evaluates the mechanisms of action and factors influencing the risk-benefit profiles of the available atypical antipsychotics in order to illustrate how these agents compare.
To the heart of ECG
Regular monitoring of patients’ physical health, including e.g. the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular side effects, are increasing among psychiatrists. This guide provides information on the ECG and practical measures to minimise the risk of QT prolongation with antipsychotic medication.
Lisbon Highlights
Chaired by Jim van Os, highlights from this symposium include valuable information on the remarkable story of Serdolect, the clinical profile of Serdolect, the efficacy of Serdolect on cognitive performance, Serdolect versus other atypical antipsychotics, and Serdolect in clinical practice.
Schizophrenia handbook (1.8 MB)
The handbook provides general information on schizophrenia, the support and treatment of patients, and some general issues those patients and carers are facing. The target group is nurses, carers, healthcare journalists and others with an interest in mental health.