Clozapine Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.

• If you have PKU, talk with healthcare provider. Oral-disintegrating tablet contains phenylalanine.

• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider. This medicine can increase blood sugar.

• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you smoke, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions.

• Be careful in hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• High blood sugar. Usually reverses when stopped.

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.

• Nervous and excitable.

• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.

• Weight gain.

• Change in sexual ability or desire. This is usually reversible.

• Drooling, especially when sleeping.

• Heart damage can rarely occur.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.

• Severe dizziness or passing out.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Fast heartbeat.

• Significant change in balance.

• Severe headache.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Severe swelling.

• Significant weight gain.

• Increased trips to the bathroom, increased thirst, or weight loss.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.