Posted by ed_uk2010 on December 22, 2013, at 13:14:17
In reply to Re: Clozaril » Lao Tzu, posted by Tomatheus on August 18, 2013, at 12:14:49
Clozapine can cause many adverse effects, but the incidence of agranulocytosis is now very low. Mild neutropenia (amber blood test result) is much more common than a red result (agranulocytosis). The vast majority of results come back green, and amber results normally revert to green upon retesting. True agranulocytosis is very uncommon. Before routine blood tests were introduced, evidence suggested a mortality rate from agranulocytosis of 0.3%. Now that blood tests are routine and mandatory, the mortality risk from agranulocytosis has dropped to 0.01% ie. 1 in 10 000. Considering the severity of illness and the number of patients who would otherwise die by suicide, this percentage is very low.
In schizophrenia, clozapine treatment appears to be associated with a *lower* overall risk of mortality than other antipsychotics, mainly because it is considerably more effective and there are fewer suicides. Of course, there can be many side effects, but clozapine is simply a more effective treatment for seriously ill pts.
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:1048724
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20130319/msgs/1056778.html