clozapine
Pronunciation: KLOH-zah-peen
An atypical antipsychotic medication requiring regular blood monitoring due to risk of agranulocytosis.
Full Definition
Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication primarily reserved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia due to its superior efficacy and significant side effect profile. The medication carries a black box warning for agranulocytosis, a potentially fatal reduction in white blood cells, necessitating mandatory weekly blood monitoring initially, then biweekly after six months. Other serious side effects include myocarditis, seizures, and metabolic changes. Despite these risks, clozapine remains the gold standard for patients who have failed multiple other antipsychotic trials and has unique anti-suicidal properties.
Usage
Usage note: Requires specialized monitoring protocols; distinguish from other atypical antipsychotics.
In Context
- "Clozapine initiation requires baseline CBC and weekly monitoring for the first 26 weeks of treatment." — Medication management protocol
- "The patient showed remarkable improvement in positive symptoms after switching to clozapine from risperidone." — Progress note