Has anyone tried Clozapine (Clozaril)? If so, how did it help and what were your side effects?
I’m asking because I’m wondering if it would help with my command voice. I know I’m not considered treatment resistant or severe and that pdocs don’t like to prescribe it because it needs regular blood tests.
Thanks for your feedback.
I’m on clozapine. It got rid of 2 out of 3 voices and really helped my suicidal ideation and self harm. On the down side, it’s given me tachycardia, QTc prolongation, and constipation. It makes me hungry all the time and I sleep 10 hours a day. That said, it’s kept me out of the hospital better than any other med. Still, I’m on it cuz nothing else worked, and I’d think very strongly before going on it.
Thanks @WhiteRaven.
Did you try risperidone? I read its the 2nd most effective after Clozapine. Amisulpride is between both but its not available in north america
Thanks @Aziz. What are your side effects for Risperidone? I know you’ve lost weight on it, but doesn’t it cause weight gain?
Clozapine causes much more weight gain and sedation than risperidone. I have no side effects, prolactin is a bit high but Dr said its nothing to worry about. If you’re worried about prolactin Olanzapine is effective too but a bit less according to studies. My pdoc told me Clozapine causes more weight gain than Olanzapine but they’re similar -zapine chemical family.
I’m on 150 mg every night. I get suicidal during the evenings and so far the dose I’m on at night is able to put these feelings at bay after it takes effect.
I would love to add an antidepressant to my cocktail, I don’t take that many psych meds, only Clozaril and Fluanxol by injection!
I haven’t been in Hospital since I started on this combo, and I used to go A LOT to the Hospital before I found the right meds!
@Aziz Sorry. I just re-read that you don’t have any side effects.
I have negative symptoms but no med help with those. I have 0 positive symptoms
Did you have positive symptoms before Risperidone? Was Risperidone the most effective medication for your positive symptoms?
Yes its the most effective med I have tried. I get symptoms off meds or on other meds. I have tried Latuda, Olanzapine, Risperidone and Abilify. For me Olanzapine did not work eventhough studies say its stronger than Abilify and Latuda. Latuda was less effective than Abilify for me but Risperidone is most effective.
Thank you for all of your answers @Aziz.
Risperidone increases prolactin idk how it is for women. I think @anon28552576 is on Risperidone, maybe she can help. Also ask your Dr about the prolactin
No Clozapine experience, but I do take 16 mg of Risperidone, which I believe is the maximum schizophrenia dose.
It doesn’t make me tired, or wired. Just neutral. I take 8 mg in the morning after my workout, and 8 mg after lunch. 3 pm is my witching hour, so my pnurse has me take all 16 mgs before that, which seems to work well.
I do have increased appetite on it, and have gained four pounds in ten weeks. But i have started calorie counting on the Cronometer app, as well as cardio workouts most days. The workouts have only been for the last 10 days though, i hope to stick with them.
While the med increases my appetite, yes, I don’t have to make poor choices with eating, and then make them worse by being sedentary.
Prolly TMI, but my breasts are often sore and swollen, so my prolactin is probably a bit elevated.
I don’t know about sexual side effects, I’m asexual.
Risperidone has worked better than any of the 7 APs I’ve tried.
When I’m under greater stress, I get breakthrough delusions and paranoia, but that’s with things like riding in the ambulance when my husband went to the hospital three times in a week, or the night I spent trying to sleep in a pullout chair when he went inpatient, or the other night we spent 17 hours in the ER and someone two cubicles down had a stroke that we all heard. Those things would stress anybody out.
At baseline I’m mostly okay. Not near perfect, but I’m labeled treatment resistant. My pnurse has said we only have two more steps if Risperidone doesnt work out - Caplyta and then clozapine. I think the Risperidone will be okay though.
I’ve refused clozapine as of now, because of the stories I’ve heard here of people who sleep too much, gain 100 pounds, and get horribly constipated. This is something I feel strongly about, because I mostly abused laxatives for ten years as a bulimic, so the idea of taking daily constipation help, besides my psyllium capsules, terrifies me that I will relapse.
Also, I don’t drive, so the legwork of arranging transport for all the blood draws would be a nightmare.
Thanks for the thoughtful and thorough response @anon28552576. It helps a lot. I enjoy your posts.
I’m glad Risperidone is working for you. I take Caplyta and it’s weaker than Geodon, but ok for me. I’ve had a command voice on both Geodon and Caplyta.
I’ve heard that Caplyta is weak. That’s why I went with Risperidone. Geodon didn’t work, so why would Caplyta? 
Thank you for the compliment! I always enjoy your posts as well - you’re always so positive, even when discussing challenges, and also, you’ve always been so supportive when I’ve cried for help. Thank you. 
My doctor offered me clozapine once said it compromises your immune system but its 1 in a hundred people so they do testing weekly i rejected it honestly that medicine scares me i would never wanna use it but if it helps you cool
I’m on 300mg clozapine and it’s okay
Do you have any side effects?