Although clozapine is a specialist prescribed drug, GPs still need to be aware of potential problems associated with its use. Constipation, blood dyscrasias, myocarditis and metabolic syndrome are all adverse effects which can lead to severe complications.
There is a newer article with updated information on this subject. See: "Clozapine: safe prescribing"
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Update: Safer prescribing of high-risk medicines: Clozapine (BPJ62)
CLOZAPINE IS THE DRUG OF CHOICE for treatment resistant schizophrenia. It is one of the few drugs in
New Zealand that can not be prescribed by GPs but they still need to be aware of potential problems associated with its
use.
Clozapine use is closely monitored including weekly blood tests (white blood cell count and absolute neutrophil count)
for the first 18 weeks of treatment, then four weekly thereafter throughout treatment and for four weeks after discontinuation.
Guidance has previously been provided about significant adverse effects and interactions with clozapine. In this article,
we re-emphasise the vital role that primary care has in recognising and managing these issues.
Best practice tip: A Christchurch GP has set up a pop-up alert on the medical
record of his one patient receiving clozapine. It states: "On clozapine, watch for constipation, neutropenia and myocarditis".
Erythromycin, co-trimoxazole, trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin are entered under medical warnings with a note saying "Avoid
- interaction with clozapine". See our ten minute tutorial on setting up a pop-up alert for
patients on clozapine.
Significant adverse effects
Adverse effects associated with clozapine include constipation, blood dyscrasias, myocarditis and metabolic syndrome.
Constipation
Constipation is a common adverse effect of clozapine and is related to its anticholinergic effects. It can be potentially
serious; four deaths resulting from complications of severe constipation have been reported in New Zealand.1
What can GPs do?
- Recognise and treat constipation in patients receiving clozapine to prevent the development of more serious complications
such as obstruction and paralytic ileus.
- Avoid concomitant anticholinergic drugs (e.g. amitriptyline) as constipation is more likely to occur.
- Encourage patients to adopt measures which may prevent constipation such as a high fibre diet (at least three serves
of vegetables, two serves of fruit and some cereal, bread, rice or pasta every day or more than 30g of fibre per day),
adequate fluid intake (1.5 - 2 litres of fluid per day) and physical activity.
Blood dyscrasias
Clozapine can cause potentially fatal neutropenia and agranulocytosis (number needed to harm = 59).2
What can GPs do?
- Patients who present with evidence of infection such as flu-like symptoms, sore throat or fever must have
a full blood count done immediately to rule out neutropenia or agranulocytosis. It must be indicated on the laboratory
form that the patient is on clozapine and it must be ensured that results are provided on the same day. Depending on
the result, urgent haematology referral or emergency hospital admission may be required. Recently a patient
died from agranulocytosis secondary to clozapine. The laboratory was not aware that the patient was on clozapine and
the sample was also clotted. This lead to a significant delay in diagnosing the agranulocytosis.
- Avoid concomitant use of antibiotics that increase the risk of neutropenia. This includes those that are known to
have a substantial potential to depress bone marrow function for example, sulphonamides, trimethoprim, co-trimoxazole
and nitrofurantoin, or those that increase the plasma concentration of clozapine such as erythromycin.
Myocarditis
Fatal myocarditis and cardiomyopathy have been reported rarely with clozapine use.
What can GPs do?3
- Check patients, who have persistent tachycardia at rest, for other symptoms of myocarditis or cardiomyopathy. These
include palpitations, arrhythmias, symptoms mimicking myocardial infarction, chest pain or other symptoms of heart failure.
- If myocarditis or cardiomyopathy is suspected, refer to the prescribing psychiatrist who may stop the patient's clozapine
treatment. The patient should also be evaluated by a cardiologist.
Metabolic syndrome
Weight gain, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia are all associated with clozapine.
What can GPs do?
- Give advice about diet and exercise. It may also be appropriate to use pharmacological management.
- Monitor relevant parameters such as lipid profile, fasting glucose, blood pressure and BMI.
Important drug interactions
Smoking
People who smoke metabolise clozapine faster than those who do not smoke. When a person stops smoking, the resulting
increase in plasma levels can cause or worsen adverse effects. Smoking cessation should always be planned with the clinical
team so that this effect can be monitored and managed.
Other drug interactions
Drugs that may increase the plasma concentration of clozapine include SSRIs, cimetidine, caffeine, lamotrigine, risperidone
and combined oral contraceptives (interactions may only be supported by isolated case reports). Drugs that may decrease
clozapine levels include rifampicin and anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and phenytoin.
See BPJ
4, April 2007, "Clozapine: Safe and effective use".