[Clozapine use and abrupt smoking cessation; a potentially life-threatening combination].
A 58-year-old man was in a period of 3 weeks twice admitted to a general hospital with symptoms of clozapine intoxication, i.e. loss of consciousness. We are of the opinion that the patient developed clozapine intoxication because he had been prescribed clozapine (300 mg/day) and at the same time had suddenly stopped smoking. The link is confirmed in the literature. We therefore recommend that clozapine-dosage be adjusted to a patient's smoking behaviour.
Ruissen
A
A
GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam. a.ruissen@ggzingeest.nl
van Schaik
A M
AM
Beijnen
J H
JH
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016540:Smoking Cessation
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine