What is a common side effect of Clozapine?

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic known for its efficacy in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. One of the most significant side effects associated with clozapine is agranulocytosis, which is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by a dangerously low level of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell essential for fighting infections.

This side effect is critical to monitor because agranulocytosis can increase the risk of infections significantly. As such, patients on clozapine require regular monitoring of their complete blood count (CBC) to ensure their white blood cell count remains within a safe range. The monitoring typically continues for the duration of treatment with clozapine due to the potential seriousness of this side effect.

Understanding this aspect of clozapine therapy emphasizes the need for vigilance in clinical practice, particularly concerning the hematologic side effects and patient safety. The other options—hypertension, memory loss, and severe insomnia—are not typically associated with clozapine to the same degree or are less pronounced compared to the risk of agranulocytosis.