Who can be prescribed clozapine?
Clozapine (brand name, Clozaril) may be prescribed for people with schizophrenia whose symptoms are not sufficiently helped by other antipsychotic medications, or who cannot tolerate the side-effects of those medications. About 3% who take it will experience a fall in white blood cells, essential to fight infection.People taking clozapine have regular blood tests to check whether this is happening. If this effect is detected, then use of clozapine is immediately stopped. How long before it starts to work? About a third of those taking clozapine who have found other medications ineffective will see some benefits within six weeks. For others, it may take up to twelve months to see benefits. If it is not helping, then the doctor may consider adjusting the dose or replacing it with a different antipsychotic medication. What are the possible side-effects? Apart from the effect on blood cells in a small number of people (monitored by the blood tests), other unwanted effects which some people
