title: Clozapine-induced dysphagia with secondary substantial weight loss.
abstract: Dysphagia is listed as a 'rare' side effect following clozapine treatment. In this case report, we describe how significant clozapine-induced dysphagia has led to significant reduction of nutritional intake with subsequent substantial weight loss. An 18-year-old single man with an established diagnosis of treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia recovered well on a therapeutic dose of clozapine. However, he was noted to lose weight significantly (up to 20% of his original weight) as the dose was uptitrated. This was brought about by development of dysphagia, likely to be due to clozapine. Addition of nutritional supplementary liquids and initiation of a modified behavioural dietary/swallowing programme, while repeatedly mastering the Mendelsohn manoeuvre technique, alleviated the swallowing difficulties and restored his weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Letterkenny General Hospital, Letterkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mugtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Letterkenny General Hospital, Letterkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Vekneswaran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Devadas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine