Clozapine levels - Schizophrenia Message Board

divercol · 09-04-2006, 04:27 PM

My daughter was diagnosed with schitzophrenia about 6 years ago and has been on clozapine for the last 3 years. She is a single mother of an 18mth old beautiful little girl.

I live with her and have a good trust relationship with her. About 2 months ago she seemed to be getting a lot more tired than usual and found it difficult to get relaxed in the afternoon for a nap. I felt she was at the early onset of a relapse. We discussed her situation and asked her doctor to put her up from 450mgs (nightly) to 475mgs. She felt an inmprovement straight away and has been better for weeks.

Now in the last week or so she seems to be going through it again. She is needing more sleep than normal and is not as positive as she normally/naturally is.

What I would like to know is what is the general expectation of medication levels. It seems like she is developing a tolerance to the medication and stronger and stronger doses are required. I could be wrong but could this be likely? Has any others here have had similar experiences and what should I exoect in the future e.g. frequent increases in medication?

Please help - I feel sad that such a beautiful natural mother keeps having to battle to remain symptom free.

Danialla · 09-12-2006, 03:22 PM

There is a blood test that can be done to measure the level of clozapine in your daughter's system. This test is in addition to the bloodwork done to measure her WBC, which is probably done bi-weekly or monthly and needed to fill her clozapine prescription.

I have been on clozapine for the past 3 yrs and am at a dose of 200 mgs, down from a high of 450 mgs.

Are you sure that your daughter is taking her medication? I know that although the clozapine helps clear my thinking, I still hate the fatigue that comes along with it!!! Sometimes I do play around with my dose, without my Drs. knowledge (very bad idea) and I do have a return of symptoms.

Try to make sure your daughter is taking her medication regularly and have her contact the dr if she is having a return of symptoms. There are other medications that can be added to the clozapine to help her overall. I take a couple of anti-depressants and provigil that help me cope.

Take care and keep me posted

.

Danialla · 09-12-2006, 03:22 PM

There is a blood test that can be done to measure the level of clozapine in your daughter's system. This test is in addition to the bloodwork done to measure her WBC, which is probably done bi-weekly or monthly and needed to fill her clozapine prescription.

I have been on clozapine for the past 3 yrs and am at a dose of 200 mgs, down from a high of 450 mgs.

Are you sure that your daughter is taking her medication? I know that although the clozapine helps clear my thinking, I still hate the fatigue that comes along with it!!! Sometimes I do play around with my dose, without my Drs. knowledge (very bad idea) and I do have a return of symptoms.

Try to make sure your daughter is taking her medication regularly and have her contact the dr if she is having a return of symptoms. There are other medications that can be added to the clozapine to help her overall. I take a couple of anti-depressants and provigil that help me cope.

Take care and keep me posted

.

divercol · 09-13-2006, 01:14 PM

Hi Danialla

Thank you for your reply. She is very honest and terrified of getting unwell and not being able to mother her baby. I am 100% positive that she takes her meds at the prescribed dose religiously.

The tiredness is very hard on her but fortunately she is once again able to nap during the day while her baby sleeps.

I am so pleased to hear that you have been able to reduce your level of clozapine. That gives me hope that one day she might have the same luck.

Currently the doctor has put her up to 525mg nightly and I have seen an immediate improvement. She is no longer just reacting to life when situations happen that need her to act but she is back to planning ahead for events e.g. meals etc

The doctor has also prescribed an antidepressant which she will start today.

Like everybody I don't know what the future holds but I am hoping that it won't be one of increasing levels/doses of clozapine.

divercol · 10-10-2006, 03:51 PM

Well the increases are still continuing.

It seems like every 3 to 4 weeks she is needing an increase in her clozapine. In addition she is now on an antidepressant. She had an increase yesterday and is now on 550mg Clozapine nightly with a morning antidepressant.

She is functioning extremely well but we are both very worried that she will continue to need higher and higher doses, with the question in the back of our minds - what happens when she is unable to be given any more increases?

Please help with some reassurances that she will likely level out on her requirement of clozapine.