Posted by Eilidh on October 2, 2002, at 8:08:23
In reply to Clozapine induced Myocarditis?, posted by JLM on October 2, 2002, at 2:10:35
Due to the possibility of severe side effects with clozapine your relative should be used to regular blood screening at least once a month. If there is an inflammatory process present, such as myocarditis, this ought to be reflected in his / her blood results to a greater or lesser extent. The professional person screening these results should pick up on white blood cell changes from his/her normal levels. Appropriate action ought to have been initiated by them if they suspect any problems exist.
Is there a way of talking your relative into having a checkup by a physician, or better still a cardiologist, as a means of making sure their heart is checked out, and bloods taken for haemotology screening?
Is this relative resistive to such action, or is it a case of further medical intervention related to Clozapine may encourage non compliance with the drug? Is your relative's mental health prohibitive to such action? If there is a severe side effect present, as you suspect, then Clozapine will have to be discontinued anyway.
All you can do is encourage him/her, or ask someone else to encourage him/her, to visit a physician to identify the nature of any problem and hopefully receive any required medical intervention. Examination by a physician is the only way to rule out the exixtence of any myocarditis your relative may be suffering.
I wish you both wellEilidh
poster:Eilidh
thread:121916
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020930/msgs/121929.html