Medication Question - Clozapine

[Steel Maiden]

Last week I was started on clozapine, which is an antipsychotic for treatement-resistant schizophrenia that needs to be increased very slowly. They start from 25mg and end up at around 450mg.

There is another patient on this ward who is a friend of mine and we're both on non-therapeutic doses as we are still going through the "increasing the dose slowly" process.

Side-effects such as:

• The shakes
• Heavy legs
• Bad co-ordination
• Nausea
• Speech problems
• Headaches
• Tiredness

We can't even hold a cup of tea in our hands without shaking enough to spill it on our hands.

This is on a very low dose that has no anti-psychotic properties. I dread to think what will happen at 450mg (I am only on 100mg and am increasing the dose every day).

Any advice/experience about clozapine?

[Breeze]

Ask to have a chat with the pharmasist. They are often on wards and in ward rounds. They are always full of info the Dr's don't always know.

[Animad]

Are you an in-patient right now? If so you should discuss this with the ward staff/ in-hospital pharmacist/ psych.

Starting any new med can cause side effects and they can be seen at a low dose. This is why they start you on a low dose so that as you gradually increase it the hope is the side effects and toxicity is less than if they suddenly put you on the highest dose that can cause a lot of problems as your body won't have the mechanisms to clear it. However, if the side effects are worrying you you should discuss this with someone. If you are an IP that is the people in the hospital. If not your GP would be the easiest way unless you have a quick way to get in touch with your psych if (s)he but you on the meds.

[Cacoethes]

im also on clozapine. ive been on it for a couple of years now.
when i first started it i was getting some of those side effects, but dont get so many now, obviously its different for everyone.
as said above, you should probably see a nurse or pharmacist.

[lostandalone3]

My partner takes it. When he first started taking it he had lots of side effects, like the ones you describe. But now he doesnt seem to be suffering an ill effects, i think he is on a little bit more than 450mgs too.

Its like any medication it just takes time for your body to adjust.
How long are they giving you to put you up to a theraputic dose?

[Aphelion]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, your body takes time to adjust and for some it takes longer than others - the fact that both yo uand your friend are experiencing the same side effects indicates that it's normal. However, if you start experiencing some heart and/or respiratory problems let your doctors know as soon as possible.
Hope things turn out ok.

[Steel Maiden]

Thanks all, that really helped. I will talk to my doctor and the pharmacist in the next ward round, which is on Monday.

[sherlock holmes]

I agree with all that's been said.

I was in the psych ward with a woman on clozapine (she was up to the theraputic dose) and the only side effect she had was tiredness after taking it. They do wear off.

[Steel Maiden]

Thanks.
My resting heart rate is 140! That's bad news, right? The nurse wouldn't let me take my Clozapine because of that. This is the second time in two days that they had to omit my dose.