A review of clozapine safety.
Clozapine is a distinctive antipsychotic agent, having a unique clinical profile and an idiosyncratic safety profile. More so than with other agents, the weighting of its adverse event profile is critical, in order to counterbalance its clear clinical advantages. The safety issues with clozapine are in a number of areas, some of which are considered medical emergencies and potentially life-threatening. These include haematological (neutropenia and agranulocytosis), CNS (seizures), cardiovascular (myocarditis and cardiomyopathy), metabolic (diabetes), gastrointestinal and neuromuscular. Understanding the safety profile of clozapine allows an informed use of the agent that can maximise its clear clinical benefit and minimise the known risks.
Fitzsimons
Joanna
J
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, Swanston Centre, University of Melbourne, PO Box 281, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.
Berk
Michael
M
Lambert
Timothy
T
Bourin
Michel
M
Dodd
Seetal
S
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000139:chemically induced; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000139:chemically induced; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced; D015430:Weight Gain
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine