Here is the detailed information for Clozapine Tablet 50 mg, excluding brand names:
💊 Clozapine Tablet 50 mg
✅ DESCRIPTION
Clozapine 50 mg is an oral atypical antipsychotic prescribed primarily for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. It is used when other antipsychotic medications have failed or caused intolerable side effects. Clozapine also has anti-suicidal properties, making it beneficial in preventing recurrent suicidal behavior in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
🧪 FORMULATION
- Active Ingredient: Clozapine 50 mg
- Form: Oral tablet
- Route: Oral administration
- Excipients may include: Lactose monohydrate, cellulose, starch, etc.
- Packaging: Typically in blister packs or strip form
🌿 NATURE
- Drug Class: Atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic
- Mechanism of Action:
- Blocks dopamine D2, serotonin 5-HT2A, histamine H1, alpha-adrenergic, and muscarinic receptors
- Balances chemical activity in the brain to manage positive (e.g., hallucinations) and negative (e.g., apathy) symptoms
💊 USES
- Schizophrenia (treatment-resistant)
- Recurrent suicidal behavior in psychotic disorders
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Psychosis in Parkinson’s disease (off-label, low dose)
- Occasionally used in bipolar disorder with psychosis (off-label)
🌟 ADVANTAGES
- High efficacy in refractory schizophrenia
- Minimal extrapyramidal side effects compared to older antipsychotics
- Reduces suicide risk
- May improve negative symptoms more effectively than other drugs
- Used in lower doses for Parkinson’s-related psychosis with minimal motor side effects
⚠️ PRECAUTIONS
🚨 Boxed Warnings:
- Agranulocytosis (life-threatening neutropenia)
- Seizure risk (dose-related)
- Myocarditis and cardiomyopathy
- Severe hypotension/bradycardia
- Gastrointestinal hypomotility (severe constipation)
🔍 Monitoring:
- WBC & ANC (neutrophil count): Must be regularly monitored
- Blood pressure, ECG, liver/kidney function tests
- Weight, blood sugar, lipid profile
- Signs of myocarditis: chest pain, fatigue, fever
⚠️ Side Effects:
- Sedation
- Hypersalivation
- Weight gain
- Dizziness, orthostatic hypotension
- Constipation
- Rare: Seizures, fever, confusion, arrhythmia
🚫 Contraindications:
- History of clozapine-induced agranulocytosis
- Uncontrolled epilepsy
- Active myocarditis or cardiomyopathy
- Severe liver/renal impairment
- Paralytic ileus
📋 DOSING GUIDE
| Stage | Suggested Dose |
|---|---|
| Starting dose | 12.5–25 mg once or twice on Day 1 |
| Titration | Increase by 25–50 mg/day gradually |
| Maintenance | Typically 300–450 mg/day (divided) |
| Max dose | 900 mg/day (under supervision) |
50 mg tablets are often used during titration or as a step between low and medium doses.
🧊 STORAGE
- Store at 20°C to 25°C
- Protect from light and moisture
- Do not remove from blister until use
- Keep out of reach of children
- Ensure safe handling to prevent caregiver exposure