Clozapine

(KLOE za peen)

What key warnings do I need to know about before giving this drug to my child?

• Unsafe blood cell problems may happen. Report any fever, sore throat, mouth sores, infections, easy bruising, or purple "splotches" on the skin to your child's doctor right away. Follow what the doctor tells you about blood tests while your child is taking this drug. These tests are needed.
• If your child has a history of seizures, head injury, or brain tumor, his/her chance of having a seizure may be higher if taking a large dose of this drug every day. Stopping some drugs all of a sudden or giving some drugs may raise the chance of seizures. Check all drugs with your child's doctor.
• This drug may cause harm to your child's heart sometimes. It may cause low blood pressure or a fast heartbeat. Talk with your child's doctor.
• Sometimes drugs are not safe when your child takes them with other drugs. They can cause bad side effects. This is one of those drugs. Be sure to talk to your child’s doctor about all the drugs your child takes.

Is it safe for my child to take this drug?

• Not if your child has an allergy to clozapine or any other part of this drug.
• Be sure to let the doctor know if your child has any allergies or side effects to drugs, foods, or dyes. Make sure to tell about the allergy and what signs your child had. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• Not if your child has any of these health problems: Bowel block, low white blood cell count, or seizures.

Why does my child need this drug?

• It is used to treat problems with how one acts.
• It is used to treat schizophrenia.

How does this drug work?

• Clozapine helps clear thinking.
• It works on helping social interactions, mood, expression of mood, as well as, delusions, paranoia, and look.

How is this drug given?

• Give this drug with or without food. Give with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• Do not push the tablet out of the foil when opening. Use dry hands to take it from the foil. Place on your child's tongue and let it melt. Water is not needed. Do not let your child swallow it whole. Do not let your child chew, break, or crush it.Oral-disintegrating tablet:
• Have your child drink lots of noncaffeine liquids every day unless told to drink less liquid by your child's doctor.

How long does this drug take to work?

• It may take 6 weeks to see the full effect.

What do I do if my child misses a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your child's next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child's normal time.
• If you miss giving your child this drug for 2 or more days, call your child’s doctor to find out how to restart.
• Do not give 2 doses or extra doses.
• Do not change the dose or stop your child's drug. Talk with your child's doctor.

What safety measures do I need to take when my child is using this drug?

• Keep a list of all your child's drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your child's doctor.
• If your child has high blood sugar (diabetes), talk with the doctor. This drug can raise blood sugar.
• If you have heart disease, talk with your doctor.
• If your child has liver disease, talk with the doctor.
• If your child has lung disease, talk with the doctor.
• Avoid giving your child other drugs and natural products that may slow your child's actions.
• If your child has PKU, talk with your child's doctor. Some products have phenylalanine.
• Have your child's blood work checked often. Talk with your child's doctor.
• Have your child's blood pressure and heart rate checked often. Talk with your child's doctor.
• Check all drugs your child is taking with your child's doctor. This drug may not mix well with some other drugs.
• This drug may cause your child to be less alert. Have your child avoid tasks or actions that call for alertness. These include playing (for example, riding a bicycle, rollerblading, sports) or using items that call for your child to have focus or coordination (for example, scissors, lawnmower, electric scooters, or toy cars). Your child's actions will be closely watched until you see how this drug affects him/her. School work may be hard for your child to focus on and get done.
• Be careful in hot weather. Have your child drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.

What are some side effects of this drug?

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred eyesight, or a change in thinking clearly. Have your child avoid tasks or actions that call for him/her to be alert or have clear eyesight until you see how this drug works.
• Feeling dizzy. Have your child get up slowly over a few minutes when sitting or lying down. Have your child be extra careful climbing stairs.
• Nervous and excitable.
• Hard stools (constipation). Drinking more liquids, working out, or adding fiber to your diet may help. Talk with your doctor about a stool softener or laxative.
• Weight gain.
• Drooling when sleeping.
• Harm to the heart may rarely happen.
• High blood sugar. This most often goes back to normal when drug is stopped.

When do I need to call my child's doctor?

• If any of this news causes you to be worried, any of the unwanted side effects happen, or if your child is not better after taking this drug.
• If you think there was an overdose, call your local poison control center or ER right away.
• If your child shows signs of a very bad reaction, call your child's doctor or the ER right away. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or if your child is not acting normal.
• If your child shows any signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.5°F (38°C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color or sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
• If your child shows signs of very bad dizziness or passes out.
• If your child has trouble breathing.
• If your child has a fast heartbeat.
• If your child has a change in balance.
• If your child has a bad headache.
• If your child is feeling very tired or weak.
• If your child has more trips to the bathroom, more thirst, or weight loss.
• If your child has swelling in his/her legs or belly.
• If your child has a big weight gain.
• If your child gets a rash.
• If your child’s health problem does not get better or if you believe your child’s health problem is worse.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from water. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• Give oral-disintegrating tablet right after opening. Throw away any part of opened pouch that is not used.

General drug facts

• If your child has a very bad allergy, he/she needs to wear an allergy ID at all times.
• You may get this drug by drug order only. If there are refills, call your pharmacy. If your child does not have refills left, you may need to call your child's doctor.
• Get rid of this drug when your child no longer needs it or if the drug is outdated.
• Most drugs may be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• In Canada, take any unused drugs to the pharmacy. Also, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th to learn about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th to learn about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.
• Do not share your child's drug with others and do not give anyone else's drug to your child.
• Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your child's drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your child's doctor.
• Call your doctor for help with any side effects. If in the U.S., you may also call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or if in Canada, you may also call Health Canada's Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with the doctor before giving your child any new drug, including OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• If you do not use a drug the right way, it may not be safe. Follow what your child’s doctor tells you.

Copyright © 1978- Lexi-Comp Inc., The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO., and Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This information is protected under US and international copyright law. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited.