Question: The reference cited below notes “Despite the unusually beneficial effects of clozapine, its use is limited due to potentially severe or even life-threatening adverse effects, including agranulocytosis, hepatitis, ileus, epileptic seizures, and cardiovascular effects.” What are the adverse cardiovascular effects associated with clozapine?
Answer: The cited reference notes “Among adverse cardiovascular effects, clozapine has been associated with tachycardia (in at least 10 % of clozapine- treated patients), hypertension or hypotension, syncope, and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities (at an incidence of at least 1 %). Other severe adverse cardiac effects include rare but potentially life-threatening early myocarditis and later cardiomyopathy. (Curto M et al. Systematic review if clozapine cardiotoxicity. 2016 Curr Psychiatry Reports 18(7): 68-86)