Cebu Normal University

College of Nursing
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG STUDY IN
PSYCHIATRY AS A NURSING SPECIALTY
Name of student:
Inclusive Dates of Exposure:
______
Yr & Section: _______________________________________________
Area of Exposure: ___________________________________________
Client Initials: _______________________________________________
Date of submission: _________________________________________
Diagnosis: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Doctor: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DRUG DATA
GENERIC NAME:
Clozapine

CLASSIFICATION

THERAPEUTI
C:
Antipsychotic

BRAND NAMES:
Clozaril, FazaClo,
Versacloz
PATIENTS
DOSE:
100mg tab OD

PHARMACOL
O-GIC:
Dopaminergic
blocker

MINIMUM DOSE:
12.5 mg orally
MAXIMUM
DOSE:
450 mg
AVAILABILITY:
Tablets 25,
100mg; orally
disintegrating
tablets 12.5, 25,
50, 100 mg
ROUTE:

MECHANISM OF
ACTION
Blocks dopamine
receptors in the
brain, depresses the
RAS;
anticholinergic,
antihistaminic, and
alpha-adrenergic
blocking activity
may contribute to
some of its
therapeutic (and
adverse) actions.
Clozapine produces
fewer extrapyramidal
effects than other
antipsychotics.

PREGNANCY
CATEGORY: B
ONSET: varies
PEAK: 1 6 hr
DURATION: weeks
METABOLISM:
hepatic, 4 12 hr
DISTRIBUTION:
crosses placenta,
enters breast milk

INDICATIONS
-Management of
severely ill
schizophrenics
who are
unresponsive to
standard
antipsychotic
drugs

-Reduction of the
risk of recurrent
suicidal behavior
in patients with
schizophrenia or
schizoaffective
disorder (for
orally
disintegrating
tablet)

CONTRAINDICATIONS

-Contraindicated
with allergy to
clozapine, CNS
depression,
comatose states,
history of seizure
disorders, lactation,
therapy with other
drugs that cause
bone marrow
depression.
PRECAUTION:
Use cautiously with
CV disease, narrowangle glaucoma,
pregnancy.

DRUG-DRUG
INTERACTIONS:
-increased
therapeutic effect
and toxic effects
with cimetidine,
caffeine

S/E or ADVERSE
REACTIONS
CNS: drowsiness,
sedation, seizures,
dizziness,
syncope,
headaches
CV: tachycardia,
hypotension,
potentially-fatal
myocarditis
GI: nausea,
vomiting,
constipation
GU: urinary
abnormalities
Hematologic:
agranulocytosis
Others: fever,
weight gain,
rashes

NURSING
RESPONSIBILITIES
Assess for hallucinations,
mental status, dementia,
bipolar disorder (initially and
throughout therapy).
Obtain complete health
history, especially
psychological, neurologic
and blood diseases: including
blood studies: CBC, WBC
with differential, electrolytes,
BUN, creatinine, liver
enzymes.
Do not let client engage in
any hazardous activity until
response to the drug is
known. Drowsiness and
sedation are common adverse
effects.
Let client rise slowly to
avoid orthostatic
hypotension.
Report immediately any of
the following: unexplained
fatigue, especially with
activity; shortness of breath,
sudden weight gain or edema

PO

EXCRETION: feces,
urine

-decreased
therapeutic effect
with phenytoin,
ethotoin

SOURCE:
SOURCE:
2011 Lippincotts
Nursing Drug
Guide pages 318320

2011 Lippincotts
Nursing Drug
Guide pages 318320

SOURCE:
2011 Lippincotts
Nursing Drug Guide
pages 318-320

of the lower extremities.

Document and record.

SOURCE:
SOURCE:
2011 Lippincotts
Nursing Drug
Guide pages 318320

SOURCE:
2011 Lippincotts
Nursing Drug Guide
pages 318-320

2011 Lippincotts
Nursing Drug Guide
pages 318-320

SOURCE:
2011 Lippincotts Nursing Drug
Guide pages 318-320