Clozapine was first developed in Switzerland in 1958. May 1960 animal testing of Clozapine showed severe side effects which should mean rejection in clinical trials. Clozapine test patients died of blood poisoning and infection. Clozapine was withdrawn from use in most of Europe. Clozapine research was halted but Clozapine was still used. In 1972 Clozapine was sold commercially in Switzerland and Austria. In 1975 Clozapine, used in Finland, was discovered to cause blood poisoning and withdrawn by the FDA. In 1990 the FDA approved Clozapine at doctors' discretion. Clozapine use today is less valid because it's used for disorders previously assigned to another class.CLOZAPINE'S EFFECTS
Clozapine's life-threatening often misdiagnosed VISIBLE movement disorders include drooling, Parkinson symptoms, catatonia, bradykinetic disorders e g tremors, rigidity, hypotonia, expressionlessness, decreased initiated or spontaneous normal movement e g combing your hair. Lingering Clozapine effects impair adjustment to community life. Patients must be taught social and survival skills such as how to shop for groceries, open a bank account or relate to people. Clozapine's steady state blood level concentration is reached in less than a week. Clozapine passes through the liver and the GI tract. Clozapine requires weekly CBC (complete blood count) continued at least a month after discontinued use because Clozapine produces severe agranulocytosis, decreased amounts of white blood cells as in leukemia, decreasing immunity to infectious disease. Other Clozapine effects include tachycardia and intensified preexisting heart conditions, increased sweating, dehydration, heat stroke, fever, GI symptoms, liver damage, tremors, and extrapyramidal disorders such as tardive diskenasia and dystonia. Clozapine lowers seizure thresholds. Clozapine tolerance appears in less than 2 weeks. Clozapine side effects increase in Jews and women.
A parent writes: Doctor wants to use Clozaril to see if it helps. Cylert seemed to help but the doctor discontinued it due to high white cell count.