Clozapine Safety, 35 Years Later

Title: Clozapine Safety, 35 Years Later

Volume: 6 Issue: 3

Author(s): Michele Raja

Affiliation:

Keywords: Clozapine, schizophrenia, side effects, treatment

Abstract: Clozapine is the best treatment option in several clinical circumstances, including treatment-resistant schizophrenia, non treatment-resistant schizophrenia, suicide risk in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, aggressiveness or violence in psychiatric patients, psychosis in Parkinsons disease, prevention and treatment of tardive dyskinesia. However, clozapine is associated with many serious side effects. Furthermore, monitoring requirements, i.e., frequent blood draws and frequent visits, discourage clozapine use. Therefore, the drug is underused. The only way to avoid the underuse of clozapine is full awareness of its side effects and competence to minimize them. The aim of the paper is reviewing the safety profile of clozapine and the suggested strategies in the management of its side effects, including neutropenia, eosinophilia, seizures, myocarditis, weight gain, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypersalivation, fever, constipation, ileus, urinary incontinence, sweating. The neuropsychiatric side effects of clozapine are not discussed in this review.

Cite this article as:

Raja Michele, Clozapine Safety, 35 Years Later, Current Drug Safety 2011; 6 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488611797579230