Help - clozapine

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Does anyone know anything about this drug?

Shame there's not more information from people who've experienced this drug. All I can add is that in the TV show "Homeland", the Clare Danes character is supposedly taking this drug, and I assume someone has researched that it would be possible to take this medication and be able to work at a responsible, active and stressful job without bad side-effects.

Thanks showtime. I've heard it can be quite very sedating.

Bump just in case. It sounds like they have to be careful starting people on it. My psych said she doesn't think enough people are on it though (?).

Try www.crazymeds.us. It's very useful and informative.

It's a good drug that can really help people that haven't had their symptoms reduced by other drugs but can have side effects such as sedation and weight gain. Is their anything specific you want to know?

Thanks dontrunwithscissors and flowerflo. I suppose I'm wondering why it involves in inpatient stay to start it?

It's usually started during an inpatient stay due to the risk of adverse reactions (hypotension, fits, sedation etc) so the person can be closely monitored and the dose slowly increased. However nowadays most services should have a policy for initiating it in the community. If patients meet certain criteria they can start it at home but are still very closely monitored by doctors and nursing staff twice a day for the first 2 weeks. The adverse reactions are rare, but better to be safe than sorry, so the monitoring is necessary.

Forgot to say regular blood tests are needed too to monitor white blood cell count.

Thanks flowerflo, that helps

No worries :)