Posted by yxibow on March 2, 2008, at 18:43:25
In reply to Re: caution will robinson, about Clozaril and benz, posted by Quintal on March 2, 2008, at 8:44:48
> Your post surprised me Jay because I was in hospital just recently with a man who was taking Clozaril and 1mg lorazepam p.r.n for panic attacks. The BNF only advises of the possibility of increased sedative effects when combined with anxiolytics and hypnotics, no contraindications, nothing sinister there, though it's not the most exhaustive manual in the world.
> http://www.bnf.org/bnf/bnf/54/41001i364.htm
>
> I note that 'causality has not been clearly determined' re: (coma and respiratory depression, i.e. lung colapse) possibilities.
>
> QIt most definately has here in the US. My doctor will not give me Clozaril until my Valium is pretty low. But 1mg Ativan and .25 Xanax is "pretty low". I'm still on a higher dose and it -is- potentially dangerous to slip away.
That doesn't mean very low amounts haven't been combined. But as one goes up and one has multiple CNS depressants (AEDs or benzos, etc) there is a definite risk, perhaps greater than the blood draw risk. Its a definate watch and wait thing in the hospital and for newly started outpatients I would think prudence is unfortunately required to prevent irreversible comas.
poster:yxibow
thread:815259
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080221/msgs/815801.html