clozapine and Tachycardia--Paroxysmal

Clozapine is considered to be more effective than other antipsychotic drugs for treating treatmentresistant schizophrenia. However, side effects of clozapine include agranulocytosis and, less commonly, cardiovascular disease, which is occasionally fatal. We describe a 56-year-old woman who developed clozapine-related paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia during clozapine dose titration and had a recurrence despite being treated with verapamil. For treatment-resistant schizophrenia, a slow titration of the clozapine dose is necessary, and potential cardiac side-effects should be monitored.

Topics: Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Antipsychotic Agents; Clozapine; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal; Tachycardia, Supraventricular; Verapamil