Side Effects Of Clozapine

Treatment for epilepsy is often focused on controlling the seizures with the least amount of medication as possible. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the class used to accomplish this. Some of the AEDs that are used most often are Clonazepam, Diazepam, Divalproex, Gabapentin, and Phenytoin. The most common side effects of these medications include nausea, vomiting, sedation, fatigue, and lethargy. (Kwan,1; Benbadis, 3-5; Huethers,637)

Tardive dyskinesia is a persistent movement disorder that can result from a prolonged use of antipsychotics and is more prominent with the use of atypical antipsychotics. My preceptor decided to start the patient on Clozapine because of its effectiveness with previous clients that had tardive dyskinesia. According to my preceptor, Clozapine has shown signs of minimizing symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. Treatment did not start immediately as the patient had to get baseline labs, which included absolute neutraphil count, blood glucose, and lipid levels. Patient's weight, height, and BMI were also obtained. AIMS scale was not used with this patient as it does not include tremors. Effectiveness was based on the patients subjective account, and physical observation. Clozapine was started at a low dose and titrated up to 125mg PO QHS. Patient is getting weekly lab work for absolute neutraphil count. To date, there is no sufficient data available that suggests a cure for this movement disorder. However, the question is, among adults, what available treatments have shown the greatest effectiveness in minimizing the symptoms of tardive

There are still several options for treatment that you must choose from, as well as having to deal with side effects that accompany each treatment. Of all the treatments, antidepressants tend to have the most side effects. Some of the side effects common to all three types of antidepressants are: anxiety, vomiting, confusion, chest pain, blurred vision, irritability, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, headache, and nervousness (Cheung et al. 2003, Vanderkooy et al. 2002). Some other, more severe, side effects are difficulty urinating, decreased appetite, heart complications, and suicide (Simon and Stern 2003 - Review). It is the last side effect, suicide, which has recently caused some controversy within the medical field. With recent research showing a correlation between antidepressants and suicide, as well as the FDA ordering warning labels for suicide on antidepressant medication, physicians have to be careful prescribing the drugs, especially to children and adolescents.

In addition to taking stimulants, Wunder explains that most patients suffering from narcolepsy also have to take anti-depressants to maintain alertness and avoid excessive amounts of fatigue, loss of muscle tone and strength, and sleep paralysis. Some of the anti-depressants prescribed to narcoleptic patients includes: “imipramine (Tofranil), desimpramine (Norpramin), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).” Scientists and researchers are able to make more advanced medicines to make life more livable for those who have narcolepsy. Hopefully, narcoleptic patients will soon be able to live a life without having to worry about suddenly falling asleep and missing the events occurring in their lives.

Cerebrovascular effects are also possible, however, a patients could bring this upon themselves if they become extremely agitated and heightened their blood pressure and heart rate past the normal range. Antipsychotic drugs help control this by keeping their moods much more constant, which keeps them from getting worked up and increasing their heart rate and blood pressure. Most dementia patients already have other health problems and by them not taking antipsychotics it could do more harm than good. Antipsychotic drugs are not for every dementia patient, but in some cases their quality of life can be greatly improved by the drug. It is ultimately the patient’s doctor’s and caregiver’s decision whether antipsychotics are the best form of treatment for them. I have personally seen the benefits in my great grandmother and believe the medications, when used the right way, can be very advantageous. She has advanced dementia and was put on the antipsychotic drug Xanax, which has greatly improved her quality of life. The downsides of the drug definitely do not outweigh the benefits it offers

In 1955, antipsychotic medications were introduced to help mental disorders. These medications are usually taken orally in which help relieve symptoms for periods of days. The misuse or abuse of the medications are low. There are three generations of antipsychotic medications. The first generation is known for reducing hallucinations and delusions, but not affecting problems like disorientation or depression. An example would be chlorpromazine, brand name being Thorazine. Some negative side effects of taking the first generation drugs are Parkinson’s-like symptoms, tardive dyskinesia, and weight gain. Next, the second generation drugs minimized the outcome of the individual getting Parkinson’s-like symptoms. An example of this generation would be Clozaril. “A unique feature of Clozaril is the 1 to 2 percent chance of developing a potentially lethal blood disease called agranulocytosis” (Levinthal 282). This disease decreases white blood cells and affects the immune system. If early signs of this disease start to appear the patient will stop taking Clozaril and recover. Lastly, the third generation has shown to be the most effective on schizophrenia. Abilify is an example of this generation drug. It does not have a risk of Parkinson’s, tardive dyskinesia, or diabetes. Abilify blocks specific serotonin receptors in which prevents negative side effects from happening. These different

Carbamazepine. Carbamazepine is another anticonvulsant drug that is widely used as a mood stabilizer; however, it is not approved by the FDA as a mood stabilizer (Sinacola & Peters-Strickland, 2012). Common side effects of Carbamazepine include rashes, dizziness, and fatigue. In addition to the other drugs mentioned, carbamazepine also requires testing with its use because it may increase the risk of agranulocytosis. However, it is rare with proper monitoring by the

In the study patients age 20 to 64 that is diagnosed with depression and on antidepressants was used to observe the possibility of antidepressants causing epilepsy. The data does show some links between antidepressant use and epilepsy, even though it is inconsistent and non-decisive.

Treatment will often include antipsychotics for the illness itself, anticholinergic drugs to help treat extrapyramidal symptoms (movement disorders), that are caused by antipsychotics, and in some cases cognitive remediation. Cognitive remediation techniques are time and labor intensive, because cognitive deficits are multiple and vary from person to person. Such techniques seem to work best when specifically tailored to each patient. ("Schizophrenia Treatment & Management: Approach Considerations, Antipsychotic Pharmacotherapy, Other Pharmacotherapy," 2018). When combined with drug therapies, cognitive remediation is successful. Drugs included in therapy are Risperidone, Clozapine, and Olanzapine, which produce their effects with reduced incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms. Clozapine has the adverse effect of dangerously depressing bone marrow function and the patient must have their blood count checked on a biweekly basis, if white blood cells drop too low, it is discontinued. (Timby & Smith, 2014) Other antipsychotics include Haloperidol, Fluphenazine, Risperidone, and Olanazapine, all of which block dopamine receptors. Common anticholinergic drugs are trihexyphenidyl and benztropine. These drugs should all be taken as prescribed and should never be stopped abruptly due to withdrawal symptoms or more severe adverse

Möller (1999) has critically examined and analyzed the effectiveness, risk, and safety measures of using benzodiazepine that is consistent with Batelaan, Van Balkom & Stein (2012) idea. Moller (1999) argues that as much as benzodiazepine has many survival values, the drug is crammed with notable side effects and risks that can jeopardize the health of the patient. The author presented traceable basic pharmacotherapy of benzodiazepines that has played an imperative role in accounting the side effects of it. In addition, the author has provided pharmacological properties of benzodiazepines and linked the properties with side effects and potential risks. The author has analyzed the clinical indications and

The medication that Mrs. A is on is Clozapine. The decision to use clozapine is not taken lightly because of the potentially life threatening side effect. An awareness of side effects is important to primary care practitioners because they have most contact with the patients.

They’re used to rebalance dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior, which can help you think clearly and take part in everyday activities. Aripiprazole can decrease hallucinations and improve concentration. It can also help with nervousness, severe mood swings and decrease how often they occur. Risperdal will help with hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speech, and social isolation. Both medications may cause sensitivity to extreme temperatures which can lead to dehydration. It may impair your thinking or reactions, lower blood pressure, dizziness and increase heart rate. Fatigue, sleepiness, headache, constipation, sexual dysfunction, and appetite increases are also common. Aripiprazole and Risperdal may increase the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin. Side effects of these increased levels include females losing their period, production of breast milk and males losing their sex drive or erectile complications. Long term elevated prolactin can lead to osteoporosis or increased risk of bone fractures. Some people may develop muscle-related side effects such as restlessness, tremors, and stiffness. Antipsychotics increase the risk of weight gain, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. These serious side effects can lead to depression, lethargy, and

Traditional antipsychotics are good at reducing the positive symptoms, but do not reduce the negative symptoms and are classified in low-potency and high-potency which can cause many side effects like; dry mouth, tremors, weight gain, muscle tremors, stiffness, motor disturbances, parkinsonian effects, akathisia, dystonia, akinesia, tardive dyskinesia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Antipsychotic – Psychotropic drugs are often used for neurochemical problems, behavioral problems, schizophrenia, and other mental disorders. These drugs sometimes cause side effects

The efficacy and safety of the drug in patients under the age of 18 years is not established. With renal / hepatic insufficiency and long-term treatment, control over the picture of peripheral blood and liver enzymes is necessary. Patients who did not take previously psychoactive drugs respond to the drug at lower doses compared to patients taking antidepressants, anxiolytics or alcohol. With endogenous depression, alprazolam can be used in combination with antidepressants. With the use of alprazolam, patients with depression have seen cases of hypomanic and manic development. Like other benzodiazepines, alprazolam has the ability to induce drug dependence in long-term admission in large doses (more than 4 mg / day). With a sudden discontinuation of alprazolam, there may be comeback syndromes, such as depression, irritability, insomnia, increased sweating, especially with prolonged admission (more than 8-12 weeks). When patients develop such unusual reactions as increased aggressiveness, acute excitations, feelings of fear, thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, increased muscle cramps, difficult sleep, superficial sleep, treatment should be discontinued. During pregnancy Xanax is very dangerous due to its toxic effect on the fetus and increases the risk of congenital malformations when applied in the first trimester of pregnancy. Admission of therapeutic doses in later periods