instruction: hi doctor my partner is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia he has been taking olanzapine and depakote for the past eight years which has stabled him a lot but he suffers from panic attack when he stays with a group of people his key worker and psychiatrist are recommending him to start using clozapine I am really concerned as I have been told that clozapine should be prescribed only when no other drug has worked my doubt is why cannot he have anxiety tablets can I have some information about this drug as we are planning for a family life I am quite worried about the side effects I am looking for some advice thanks
output: hi firstly clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug it means that it is one of the relatively newer drugs discovered to be helpful in paranoid schizophrenia clozapine also has lesser side effects and is considered more effective than the typical or older antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia since your partner is still having anxiety in presence of others clozapine will be helpful however clozapine still has a few side effects to be watched out for some of them are reduction in the number of the white blood cells cardiac toxicity drowsiness dizziness headache drooling of saliva when sleeping and weight gain these side effects last only as long as one is taking clozapine since you are planning for a child it is important to know that many male patients taking clozapine have experienced cessation of ejaculation during orgasm but it has not been documented in drug guides having written all that your partner may have more or less of the side effects mentioned above thus I would say that he may start taking clozapine and see how he reacts to it for some time please consult with his doctor to know any other alternatives will be very helpful for further information consult a psychologist counsellor online