Clozapine-induced bowel infarction: a case report.
Resistant schizophrenia is often treated with clozapine after other conventional atypical antipsychotics have failed or have resulted in intolerable side effects. Clozapine is generally reserved for secondary use due to its propensity to cause serious side effects, such as life-threatening agranulocytosis and the necessity for life-long blood monitoring. In this case report we present a 40-year-old female patient who suffered from chronic constipation and bowel infarctions after long-term use with clozapine. Although the use of this medication resulted in multiple abdominal surgeries with subtotal colonic resections, the patient's schizophrenic symptoms only responded to clozapine after several repeat failures with other medications; ultimately, she was continued on this medication.
McKinnon
Nicholas D
ND
US Air Force (Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas) and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, USA. nicholas.mckinnon@lackland.af.mil
Azad
Alvi
A
Waters
Brian M
BM
Joshi
Kaustubh G
KG