I’m due to start clozapine on Monday has anyone had any experience of cloz? I’m nervous reading the side effects...
Don't be worried about clozapine it really is a wonderful drug but just like any other med it does have it's side effects.
You will have weekly blood tests to keep an eye on your white blood cells one type of white cell that they are interested in are Neutrophills. These can drop when taking clozapine and leave you open to infection however you are really closely monitored and although you will hear about this in reality it does not happen that often. My clinic saw 75 people and I was the only one who's neutrophils dropped and I was taken of the drug.
You may gain weight. I did...….A lot I was 85kg 13st and went up to a whopping 105kg 16.5st
You may feel less restless then when you were on other meds. Clozapine has a lower incidence of extra pyramidal symptoms. Which is a good thing. Don't get me wrong you may still get stiffness or that inner restlessness that other meds give you but it is less likely.
You may slobber more when in bed. Again this did not happen to me but other have reported drooling especially at night. Sleeping on a towel helps.
There are a lot of horror stories about clozapine but as long as you go to the clinic (they have a motto no blood no drug) an get bloods done plus blood pressure checked there really is not a lot to fear. No doubt someone else will post after me saying Clozapine caused my leg to drop off or clozapine caused me to grow an extra ear but clozapine really does work. It has been the only drug that really sorted my voices out.
I was unlucky. My neutrophils dropped they spotted it straight away and the problem was sorted by stopping the drug.
All I can say is give it a go. I saw many a very ill person walk into the clozapine clinic and a couple of weeks later they were so relieved that their voices had calmed and that they were again able to function. Albeit a couple of kg heavier.
Have an open mind trust the doctors (that hard for me to say). If you want to chat about clozapine please contact me.
Good luck. I really miss clozapine right now.
