Side effects of Clozapine

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication prescribed in resistant schizophrenia. It is a wonderful drug in terms of effectiveness. But clozapine has several dangerous side effects like reduced white blood cell count and inflammation of heart muscles (myocarditis). Reduced white cell count can leads to deadly infections.  Myocarditis can lead to heart failure.

Because of life threatening agranulocytosis (reduction of type of white cells called granulocytes in blood) Clozapine was withdrawn from the market. But it was reintroduced due to its effectiveness in treating resistant schizophrenia.

Other troublesome side effects are increased salivation, cardiac arrhythmia and increased risk of seizures. Clozapine can also cause constipation. Diabetes mellitus is another complication of this drug.

But this drug may need to be continued despite having side effects. It is because this is the only drug that can be used in resistant schizophrenia. In addition, this drug can sometimes cure a person 100% from schizophrenia. It is called awakening. 

First published in
Mental health information blog