Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 28, 2014, at 14:11:27
In reply to Is clozapine induced agranulocytosis reversible?, posted by Lamdage22 on August 27, 2014, at 16:34:58
> The low white blood cell count that can occur. Is it reversible?
In spite of its side effects, clozapine appears to reduce overall mortality in schizophrenia. The main reason for this is that clozapine reduces suicidal thinking and behaviour.
The risk of death from agranulocytosis is less than 1 in 10 000 patients treated.... in contrast, the risk of death from suicide is high. Around 1 in 10 pts with schizophrenia eventually commit suicide. Death from suicide is therefore about 1000 times more likely than death from clozapine-induced agranulocytosis.
Clozapine causes a mild/moderate decrease in the white blood cell count much more commonly than in causes agranulocytosis. This is almost always reversible on stopping clozapine.
I think it's important to remember than although clozapine causes frequent side effects, its effectiveness is unsurpassed. It is therefore a highly important medication.
The risk of weight gain with clozapine is similar to olanzapine (Zyprexa). Clozapine cases more sedation than other antipsychotics, but since you already take Zyprexa and Seroquel in combination, you may not find it anymore sedating than these two drugs together.
One interesting fact about clozapine is that pts with schizophrenia treated with clozapine experience fewer abnormal movements than those on a placebo. This is probably because clozapine rarely causes movement disorders, but it does suppress movement disorders caused by other antipsychotics and movement disorders associated with psychosis.
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:1070382
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140815/msgs/1070421.html