I’m on low clozapine dose(100mg) so I don’t experience much side effects except weight gain and excessive sleeping. At high doses it will make you drool. Weight gain can be controlled through dieting, you need to eat low carb stuff when you crave sugar(Oats and sugar free Muesli works for me). I’m actually losing weight right now due to reducing my clozapine dose and stopping prozac which was increasing clozapine blood levels and also through dieting.
It is one of the most effective med for positive symptoms of schizophrenia though. Try to take lowest dose possible.
My son started Clozaril inpatient at the end of November. We are only just now at 100mg a day, but he is still also on Zyprexa. We haven’t been able to wean off that yet as the symptoms are still so strong. Not many side effects yet, but a bit tired.
I realize the original post is a bit old- but my son has been on clozapine for about 1 year. Has been at 175 mg for most of the year with max at 200mg-but the blood count number dropped and clozapine was reduced and kept low. Had add ons to the clozapine which caused problems ( seroquel, zyprexa) but currently also using latuda 60mg. Combo of clozapine and lutada has been OK so far.
Main side effect is needing 10 hours of sleep, and some increase appetite- some weight gain, but has been stable weight the past 6 months. During the day not sleepy, so just seems to need a few extra hours. Had some drooling with higher dose (200mg) but with lower dose not too much.
Blood tests were not too much of a problem- now they are only monthly and its much easier.
Seems pharmacy now gets approval for Clozapine from the Doctor, so no longer need to bring blood test paper to the pharmacy- This just started in December. Its much easier this way.
clozapine changed my life for the better. its been a miracle drug for my schizo and it also works well with my diabetes as other APs did not. i have gained NO weight on it,like some of the other APs, and am even quite skinny. but the only drug i remember gaining really bad weight on was Zyprexa. when i was on it, if i just looked at food i would gain weight.
and, as everyone else has said, get those blood tests every month.
good luck. let us know how it goes. (i started on 50 mg 2Xday and now take 500mg at bedtime. works like a charm.)
I can’t sit still on clozaril. Buspar helps a little but I’m out of it. It just got bad recently when Dr upped my dose. Used to b able to watch tv. Now I can’t.
