What is clozapine and when is it used for schizophrenia?
Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication that's typically prescribed when other antipsychotic medications haven't been effective. It's specifically recommended for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, which occurs when someone doesn't respond to at least two Show Full Answer
What is clozapine and when is it used for schizophrenia?
Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication that's typically prescribed when other antipsychotic medications haven't been effective. It's specifically recommended for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, which occurs when someone doesn't respond to at least two different antipsychotic medications. Between 60-70% of people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia see improvement in their symptoms with clozapine. However, it's important to know that clozapine can cause serious side effects, including a decrease in immune cells that can make it easier to get sick. Because of these risks, healthcare providers will carefully discuss the benefits and risks before prescribing it.
Some people may not be able to take clozapine due to underlying medical conditions, while others may choose not to take it. If clozapine isn't an option or doesn't work after the standard 24-week treatment course, other treatment options like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be considered.
August 9
Join
A MySchizophreniaTeam Subscriber
asked a question 💭
