Denzapine

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Decrease in the number of a type of white blood cell (neutrophil) in the blood (neutropenia)

Sudden severe deficiency in the number of white blood cells in the blood (agranulocytosis)

Constipation

Dizziness

Drowsiness

Increased salivation

Increased heart rate (tachycardia)

Headache

Blurred vision

Weight gain

A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)

Nausea and vomiting

Abnormal movements of the hands, legs, face, neck and tongue, eg tremor, twitching, rigidity (extrapyramidal effects)

Seizures

High blood glucose level (hyperglycaemia)

Blood clots in the blood vessels (thrombosis) that may detach and travel in the circulation to another area of the body (thromboembolism)

Liver disorders

Difficulty or pain when swallowing (dysphagia)

High temperature combined with falling levels of consciousness, paleness, sweating and a fast heart beat (neuroleptic malignant syndrome). Requires stopping the medicine and immediate medical treatment.

Inflammation of the muscular walls of the heart (myocarditis)

Slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

Tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines, including those bought over-the-counter and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with clozapine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any new medicines while you are taking clozapine, so that they can ensure the combination is safe.

The risk of a drop in white blood cells is greater if clozapine is taken with other medicines that can have this effect, such as the following. These medicines should not be taken in combination with clozapine: - carbamazepine - co-trimoxazole - chloramphenicol - sulphonamides, eg sulfadiazine - antipsychotics given as a depot injection - anti-cancer chemotherapy medicines - phenylbutazone - penicillamine. If clozapine is taken with lithium or other antipsychotic medicines there may be an increased risk of developing a side effect called the neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Other antipsychotics should not generally be used in combination with clozapine. There is an increased risk of sedation and decreased functioning of the central nervous system if clozapine is taken with the following: - alcohol - antidepressants - narcotics, eg morphine - benzodiazepines, eg diazepam (these should be avoided in people taking clozapine) - sedating antihistamines, eg chlorpheniramine. If you become drowsy while taking this medicine you should avoid driving and operating machinary. There may be an increase in side effects such as dry mouth and constipation if clozapine is taken with other medicines that have anticholinergic effects, including the following: - antispasmodic medicines, eg hyoscine - antihistamines, eg meclozine - anticholinergic medicines for Parkinson's disease, eg procyclidine - certain antidepressants - other antipsychotic medicines. There may be an increased risk of a drop in blood pressure that causes dizziness if clozapine is taken with medicines that reduce blood pressure, including the following: - ACE inhibitors, eg enalapril - benzodiazepines, eg diazepam. There may be an increased risk of slow shallow breathing (respiratory depression) if clozapine is taken with other medicines that can have this effect, such as opioid painkillers eg morphine. The following medicines may decrease the blood level of clozapine: - carbamazepine - omeprazole - phenytoin - rifampicin. The following medicines may increase the blood level of clozapine: - SSRI antidepressants, eg fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine or sertraline - erythromycin - cimetidine. Clozapine may increase the blood levels of the following medicines: - digoxin - warfarin. There may be an increased risk of seizures if clozapine is taken in combination with valproic acid.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Clozaril

Zaponex

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