Clozapine

I have heard from some people about clozapine. I know there are weekly blood test for six months. Is it worth the hassle of blood test and so many trips to the pharmacy? This drug scares me a bit. I heard it is like a last resort.

I have taken it only briefly, but it caused some serious side effects for me. I know for many it is a lifesaver though. It is, to my knowledge, the first atypical antipsychotic. Meaning it is different, chemically speaking, than the older, first generation antipsychotics (to my layperson brain). Some doctors once suggested that I take it again to help with my impulsivity, but I think that lifestyle changes will help with that more, perhaps. But if you're considering taking clozapine, it might be wise to get a full medical exam before. Just to confirm that clozapine won't exacerbate any other medical things. I don't know, that is just what the doctors suggested I do before I took clozapine. Wishing you well.

Well I am going to start clozapine as soon as I can get the bloodwork done. A little nervous but hopefully this will end up being good for me.

Good deal. I might start it too as soon as I get an appointment with a different psychiatrist. My regular pdoc today did not like the idea of clozapine, but I like the idea of it since I have had so many struggles with doubting things and what not. I am seeing a different pdoc now.

Almost everyone I have talked to who has taken it has had good results with it, I think, all but one person that I talked with.

The lab didn’t send the results to the pharmacy. My pdoc only works part time so I had to wait until today to get my prescription in. Then the pharmacy didn’t have it so they say I might get it Monday. So I will basically get my second blood test before I get any medicine. I can tell this is going to be a frustrating experience.

Have had 3 25mg doses. I am very tired, tremors have gotten worse and my vision is a little blurry I have to squint to see my computer. But I also feel less erratic but anxiety and ptsd are still there. This is the calmest I have felt in a long time. Can’t wait to see what happens next week when I up the dose and start lowering the Seroquel.

Hang in there, Crook.

I'mm on clozapine and it keeps your mood stable that's all

I don't wish to scare you, but when I was put on clozopine, I had tachycardia and was transferred to the heart ward of the hospital. If I'd been on it much longer I may have died from heart failure. It's the most heavy duty medication on the market. A nurse told me to refuse it and try another medication but they had me on Risperidone which wasn't working so I decided to give it a trial. I know the medical community see it as a miracle drug. The blood test monitors your white blood cell count. Its the only medication that depletes these cells. It causes about the same weight gain as quetiapine and olanzapine.
Never the less, I went back on quetiapine. So out of Clozopine, Olanzapine, Risperidone and Quetiapine, its the last that worked best for me. Abilify didn't help me either. But I know we are all physiologically different and even people with the same diagnosis experience different symptoms and differences in the severity of symptoms.
I personally believe that Clozopine should be abolished. The reports of deaths from the drug don't appear as clear cut as they should be. I don't have an underlying heart condition. It was strictly the Clozopine that sped up my heart rate. I could feel my heart racing, it was horrible. I could have died. It is a last resort for some people. So if you have tried everything else then I can see why you may consider Clozopine. The dangers are real.

Do you recall the name of the arrhytmia you had by chance? SVT maybe? A fib?

They suspected it was sinus tachycardia. However it was recorded in my notes as "clozopine sensitivity."

They are taking away the one drug that stopped the thoughts and lifted my mood. It is so cruel to give me a glimpse of the past and now take it away.

I am so sorry, Crook. Do you have good insurance? Have you read about Caplyta?