Clozapine, my worries.

I have extreme worries about the side effect profile of this drug. I'm
taking 25mg a small dose I know. But before you all jump on the band
wagon. I have contacted my psychiatrist about my concerns and he said
in all his 14 years of practicing he has never had problems from this
drug.

Am I being paranoid again? I'm on my third day of taking it. Also he
has prescribed benzo's with it and Clozapine is not supposed to mix
well with them.

ChrisC schreef:
> I have extreme worries about the side effect profile of this drug. I'm
> taking 25mg a small dose I know. But before you all jump on the band
> wagon. I have contacted my psychiatrist about my concerns and he said
> in all his 14 years of practicing he has never had problems from this
> drug.
>
> Am I being paranoid again? I'm on my third day of taking it. Also he
> has prescribed benzo's with it and Clozapine is not supposed to mix
> well with them.


I wonder why it was prescribed to you in the first place. What is your
diagnosis?
IMO antipsychotics should not be used for garden variety anxiety
disorders unless they are treatment resistant which may take years to
find out. If you have a dual diagnosis (for instance, an anxiety
disorder and an Axis 2 diagnosis such as *schizo-affective personality
disorder*) there may be good reason to prescribe an antipsychotic. As I
understand it nothing definite is known about the possible interaction
between clozapine and benzos but clinicians are recommended to use some
caution in prescribing the combo. If your doctor has much experience
with the combo he probably knows what he's doing (that is, if he
prescribed clozapine for the right reasons, it's becoming a bit of a fad
to prescribe antipsychotics for off-label use like for anxiety disorders
but personally I feel conservative about this and I'm not even a doctor
thank god.

Philip

On Aug 23, 1:29 am, Philip Peters <phi...@p-peters.demon.nl> wrote:
> ChrisC schreef:
>
> > I have extreme worries about the side effect profile of this drug. I'm
> > taking 25mg a small dose I know. But before you all jump on the band
> > wagon. I have contacted my psychiatrist about my concerns and he said
> > in all his 14 years of practicing he has never had problems from this
> > drug.
>
> > Am I being paranoid again? I'm on my third day of taking it. Also he
> > has prescribed benzo's with it and Clozapine is not supposed to mix
> > well with them.
>
> I wonder why it was prescribed to you in the first place. What is your
> diagnosis?
> IMO antipsychotics should not be used for garden variety anxiety
> disorders unless they are treatment resistant which may take years to
> find out. If you have a dual diagnosis (for instance, an anxiety
> disorder and an Axis 2 diagnosis such as *schizo-affective personality
> disorder*) there may be good reason to prescribe an antipsychotic. As I
> understand it nothing definite is known about the possible interaction
> between clozapine and benzos but clinicians are recommended to use some
> caution in prescribing the combo. If your doctor has much experience
> with the combo he probably knows what he's doing (that is, if he
> prescribed clozapine for the right reasons, it's becoming a bit of a fad
> to prescribe antipsychotics for off-label use like for anxiety disorders
> but personally I feel conservative about this and I'm not even a doctor
> thank god.
>
> Philip

I suffer schizoaffective disorder. I take Sulpiride 50mg morning and
night. So 100mg total. Citalopram 40mg, Diazepam as and when needed.
Plus 25mg of Clozapine.

ChrisC schreef:
> On Aug 23, 1:29 am, Philip Peters <phi...@p-peters.demon.nl> wrote:
>> ChrisC schreef:
>>
>>> I have extreme worries about the side effect profile of this drug. I'm
>>> taking 25mg a small dose I know. But before you all jump on the band
>>> wagon. I have contacted my psychiatrist about my concerns and he said
>>> in all his 14 years of practicing he has never had problems from this
>>> drug.
>>> Am I being paranoid again? I'm on my third day of taking it. Also he
>>> has prescribed benzo's with it and Clozapine is not supposed to mix
>>> well with them.
>> I wonder why it was prescribed to you in the first place. What is your
>> diagnosis?
>> IMO antipsychotics should not be used for garden variety anxiety
>> disorders unless they are treatment resistant which may take years to
>> find out. If you have a dual diagnosis (for instance, an anxiety
>> disorder and an Axis 2 diagnosis such as *schizo-affective personality
>> disorder*) there may be good reason to prescribe an antipsychotic. As I
>> understand it nothing definite is known about the possible interaction
>> between clozapine and benzos but clinicians are recommended to use some
>> caution in prescribing the combo. If your doctor has much experience
>> with the combo he probably knows what he's doing (that is, if he
>> prescribed clozapine for the right reasons, it's becoming a bit of a fad
>> to prescribe antipsychotics for off-label use like for anxiety disorders
>> but personally I feel conservative about this and I'm not even a doctor
>> thank god.
>>
>> Philip
>
> I suffer schizoaffective disorder. I take Sulpiride 50mg morning and
> night. So 100mg total. Citalopram 40mg, Diazepam as and when needed.
> Plus 25mg of Clozapine.



In that case it's sound prescribing IMO. But why *two* antipsychotics?
You might consider switching from hese two to another one, f.i.
Risperdal or Seroquel but if the clozapine works I wouldn't change it.

Philip

On Aug 23, 12:59 pm, Philip Peters <phi...@p-peters.demon.nl> wrote:
> ChrisC schreef:
>
>
>
> > On Aug 23, 1:29 am, Philip Peters <phi...@p-peters.demon.nl> wrote:
> >> ChrisC schreef:
>
> >>> I have extreme worries about the side effect profile of this drug. I'm
> >>> taking 25mg a small dose I know. But before you all jump on the band
> >>> wagon. I have contacted my psychiatrist about my concerns and he said
> >>> in all his 14 years of practicing he has never had problems from this
> >>> drug.
> >>> Am I being paranoid again? I'm on my third day of taking it. Also he
> >>> has prescribed benzo's with it and Clozapine is not supposed to mix
> >>> well with them.
> >> I wonder why it was prescribed to you in the first place. What is your
> >> diagnosis?
> >> IMO antipsychotics should not be used for garden variety anxiety
> >> disorders unless they are treatment resistant which may take years to
> >> find out. If you have a dual diagnosis (for instance, an anxiety
> >> disorder and an Axis 2 diagnosis such as *schizo-affective personality
> >> disorder*) there may be good reason to prescribe an antipsychotic. As I
> >> understand it nothing definite is known about the possible interaction
> >> between clozapine and benzos but clinicians are recommended to use some
> >> caution in prescribing the combo. If your doctor has much experience
> >> with the combo he probably knows what he's doing (that is, if he
> >> prescribed clozapine for the right reasons, it's becoming a bit of a fad
> >> to prescribe antipsychotics for off-label use like for anxiety disorders
> >> but personally I feel conservative about this and I'm not even a doctor
> >> thank god.
>
> >> Philip
>
> > I suffer schizoaffective disorder. I take Sulpiride 50mg morning and
> > night. So 100mg total. Citalopram 40mg, Diazepam as and when needed.
> > Plus 25mg of Clozapine.
>
> In that case it's sound prescribing IMO. But why *two* antipsychotics?
> You might consider switching from hese two to another one, f.i.
> Risperdal or Seroquel but if the clozapine works I wouldn't change it.
>
> Philip

Well I have spoke to my Psychiatrist and he has recommended that I
take half a tablet. 12.5mg as opposed to 25mg. Done that last night,
seems to have worked. No problems.