Possible adverse reactions include:
- Tardive dyskinesia, which includes permanent involuntary movements of tongue, mouth, face, trunk, arms and legs that are more common with typical antipsychotics than with atypical.
- Overheating or heatstroke. Prevent this by drinking water and staying out of heat.
- Metabolic syndrome, which includes excess weight gain, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar and triglyceride levels.
- Type II diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which includes extreme muscle stiffness, high fever, sweating, tremors, confusion, unstable blood pressure and heart rate. This is a medical emergency.
Some notes about Clozaril:
- It can cause a dangerous drop in white blood cells.
- It requires weekly blood work for 6 months, every 2 weeks for the next 6 months and then every 4 weeks thereafter.
- It is usually used only when other treatments fail.
