Clozapine - Clozapine - Oral Brand Drug

General Information

• Below is miscellaneous information regarding Clozapine.
• Clozaril
• KLO-zuh-peen

Overdose

• If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
• Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, disorientation, unsteadiness, decreased sexual ability, prolonged or painful erection in males, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

What To Do In Case Of Missed Dose

• If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
• Do not "double-up" the dose to catch up.

Warning

• Because clozapine has rarely caused severe (sometimes fatal) blood disorders (agranulocytosis), clozapine should be used only for severely ill patients who have failed to respond to other therapies.
• At least two other standard antipsychotic drugs should be tried before trying clozapine.
• Clozapine may cause seizures, especially when higher amounts of clozapine are used.
• Inform your doctor if you have a history of seizures.
• You should not perform activities where sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious risk to yourself or others (for example, operating machinery, driving, swimming).
• Dizziness upon standing (with or without fainting) may occur, and may rarely lead to breathing or heart collapse.
• Tell your doctor if you are using other psychiatric medications (for example, benzodiazepines) because these problems have also infrequently occurred in people using these other medications.
• Dizziness may occur at the first dose or during quick dose increases.
• If you miss doses for a short period of time (2 days or greater since the last dose), contact your doctor since you may need to restart using smaller doses of clozapine.
• Rare (sometimes fatal) heart disease (for example, myocarditis, heart failure) may occur with the use of clozapine.
• If you have a family history of heart failure, you should get a heart evaluation before you start taking this medication.
• Clozapine is not recommended for use in those with severe heart disease.
• If you are ever diagnosed with clozapine-related heart disease (for example, myocarditis), you should not take clozapine ever again.
• Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
• If you develop symptoms of an infection (such as fever, chills, or a persistent sore throat), unusual fatigue, difficulty breathing, rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or chest pain, notify your doctor immediately.
• Your doctor will monitor your blood cells before your therapy begins and during treatment.
• White blood cell testing must continue once a week for four weeks after you stop using this.

What To Do In Case Of Medical Emergency

• Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency.
• For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Drug Compatibility Recommendations

• Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medications you may use, especially of.

Medicinal Applications

• This medication is used to treat symptoms of a certain type of mental condition (schizophrenia) that is untreatable by other medications.

Clozapine Miscellaneous Notes

• Do not share this medication with others.
• Laboratory and/or medical tests (for example, blood tests-WBC, fasting blood sugar-FBS) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
• It is important that you keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Consult your doctor for more details.

Possible Side Effects

• This medication may cause drowsiness or dizziness.
• Use caution performing tasks that require alertness.
• Other side effects include stomach upset, constipation, dry mouth, headache, tremor and increased salivation.
• If these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor.
• To relieve dry mouth, suck on (sugarless) hard candy or ice chips, chew (sugarless) gum, drink water or use saliva substitute.
• Notify your doctor promptly if you develop.

Clozapine Storage Instructions

• Store at room temperature away from sunlight and moisture.

Usage Instructions

• Take this medication exactly as directed.
• Do not take it more often or increase the dose without your doctor's approval.
• Do not suddenly stop taking this medication without notifying your doctor.
• Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
• During the first few weeks of treatment, your dose may be adjusted until the best dose is identified.
• It may take several weeks for the full benefit of the drug to occur.

Read Before Using Clozapine (precautions)

• Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of.