Abstract
Introduction: Patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia receiving
clozapine therapy are at risk of potentially serious complications in
the general hospital setting, due to the complex pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic profile of clozapine. There is currently lack of
guidance on managing this patient group, which we aim to address in this
article. Method: Common clinical challenges that face clinicians who
care for clozapine patients in the general hospital are summarized, and
recommendations made based on the available literature and clinical
experience. Conclusion: Early collaborative management between
consultation-liaison psychiatry and other clinical teams in the general
hospital are paramount to improve clinical outcomes and avoid serious
complications in this patient group.