Medications and Drugs

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GENERIC NAME: CLOZAPINE - ORAL (KLO-zuh-peen)

BRAND NAME(S): Clozaril

Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage | Medical Alert

WARNING: Because clozapine has rarely caused severe (sometimes fatal) blood disorders (agranulocytosis), clozapine should be used only for severely ill patients who have failed to respond to other therapies. At least two other standard antipsychotic drugs should be tried before trying clozapine. Clozapine may cause seizures, especially when higher amounts of clozapine are used. Inform your doctor if you have a history of seizures. You should not perform activities where sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious risk to yourself or others (e.g., operating machinery, driving, swimming). Dizziness upon standing (with or without fainting) may occur, and may rarely lead to breathing or heart collapse. Tell your doctor if you are using other psychiatric medications (e.g., benzodiazepines) because these problems have also infrequently occurred in people using these other medications. Dizziness may occur at the first dose or during quick dose increases. If you miss doses for a short period of time (2 days or greater since the last dose), contact your doctor since you may need to restart using smaller doses of clozapine. Rare (sometimes fatal) heart disease (e.g., myocarditis, heart failure) may occur with the use of clozapine. If you have a family history of heart failure, you should get a heart evaluation before you start taking this medication. Clozapine is not recommended for use in those with severe heart disease. If you are ever diagnosed with clozapine-related heart disease (e.g., myocarditis), you should not take clozapine ever again. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. If you develop symptoms of an infection (such as fever, chills, or a persistent sore throat), unusual fatigue, difficulty breathing, rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or chest pain, notify your doctor immediately. Your doctor will monitor your blood cells before your therapy begins and during treatment. White blood cell testing must continue once a week for four weeks after you stop using this.