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What Causes Drooling, Pressure In Head, Rapid Heartbeat And Dysphagia While On Clozapine?

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Posted on Thu, 17 Dec 2015
Question: Greetings. I have schizoaffective disorder. For the past twelve years, I was taking 300 mg of clozaril, 500 mg of Depakote and 80mg of Geodon. This past XXXXXXX I stopped taking my medication because I was experiencing drooling, pressure in my head, rapid heartbeat, difficulty swallowing food, and staph infections even though I am a very hygienic individual. My psychiatrist told me Clozaril was the best medication for me so now I am taking 150mg of Clozaril per day as well as Klonopin 1mg and trazedone and melatonin to sleep. I am worried these symptoms may return. What do you suggest I tell my psychiatrist?
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Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The drug is safe to use and doesn't cause permanent changes.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related doubts.

Clozapine is a safe medicine and the medicine is not associated with the side effects you have mentioned. The drug might cause sedation but it doesn't increase anxiety or cause rapid heart beat. Geodon is Ziprasidone and the drug is a second generation anti-psychotic drug. Though the drug is safe but in some individuals in high doses the drug might cause extrapyramidal side effects or sometime chocking sensation in throat. This probably caused difficulty in swallowing the foods.

I don't find any significant studies that support the association of antipsychotics with infection. Association of staph infection was probably due to chance factors.

As you are now on Clozapine only so in my opinion you can continue to take this medicine without any worries. You will not develop these side effects.

Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.

Take care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5193 Questions

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What Causes Drooling, Pressure In Head, Rapid Heartbeat And Dysphagia While On Clozapine?

Brief Answer: The drug is safe to use and doesn't cause permanent changes. Detailed Answer: Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related doubts. Clozapine is a safe medicine and the medicine is not associated with the side effects you have mentioned. The drug might cause sedation but it doesn't increase anxiety or cause rapid heart beat. Geodon is Ziprasidone and the drug is a second generation anti-psychotic drug. Though the drug is safe but in some individuals in high doses the drug might cause extrapyramidal side effects or sometime chocking sensation in throat. This probably caused difficulty in swallowing the foods. I don't find any significant studies that support the association of antipsychotics with infection. Association of staph infection was probably due to chance factors. As you are now on Clozapine only so in my opinion you can continue to take this medicine without any worries. You will not develop these side effects. Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts. Take care