International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience
Open Access

Review Article

Most Common Side Effects of Clozapine and Their Management

¹Central New York Psychiatric Center, New York, USA

²State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medic York, USA

³Department of Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA

⁴State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo, NY, USA

⁵Dougherty Valley High School, CA, USA

⁶University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA

Corresponding Author:

Alka Aneja
Department of Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
E-mail: Alka.Aneja@dsh.ca.gov

Clozapine is a novel, unique and oldest second generation (atypical) antipsychotic agent, first introduced in 1970s in the European market in under trade name, Leponex but has been withdrawn years in 1974 due to development of severe neutropenia (agranulocytosis) resulting in cluster of deaths. It was reintroduced in the early 1990s in United States under trade name, Clozaril by U.S. Food and drug Administration (FDA) for use in treatment resistant schizophrenia in adults and for reduction of risk of persistent suicidal ideation or aggressive behavior in schizophrenic patients. As of today, Clozapine remains the most effective antipsychotic available in reducing both positive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia who fail to respond to typical antipsychotic agent, treating affective disorders, some neurological disorders, aggression, as well as psychosis in patients with dementia and parkinsonism. Most side effects associated with clozapine in general are typically benign, tolerable, and manageable.

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