Posted by linkadge on August 31, 2004, at 20:00:20
In reply to How does CLOZARIL work?, posted by nicolas on August 31, 2004, at 19:26:11
Clozaril is reffered to as the first atypical antipsychotic - I believe.
Anyhow, the only reason clozaril is not prescribed more often is because of a rare side effect involving white blood cells. As a result, you will need to regular blood tests.
Clozaril works a little differently from the other atypicals in that it affects a few more receptors. One of these receptors is the 5-ht1a recetpor. Unlike other atypicals, clozaril acts as a 5-ht1a receptor agonist. Agonism at the 5-ht1a receptor has anxiolitic and antidepressant properties.
Currently there are only two drugs for which the case of suicide prevention is clear. Lithium, and clozaril are the only two drugs which studies show prevent suicide. (Believe it or not, antidepressants have not been shown statistically to prevent suicide, but lithium and clozaril have)
I have not taken this drug, so I don't know anything for sure. But I do know that clozaril can help many people who do not respond adequitly to other antipsychotics, and it may help your mood as well as your symptoms of schitsophrenia.
I certainly think it is worth a try.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:384961
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040830/msgs/384979.html