Clozapine May Cause Severe Neutropenia. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is changing certain safety requirements for clozapine, a medication used to treat patients with schizophrenia. According to a Drug Safety Communication issued on Sept. 15, the agency is modifying requirements for monitoring, prescribing, dispensing and receiving the drug “to address continuing safety […]
Clozapine May Cause Severe Neutropenia. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is changing certain safety requirements for clozapine, a medication used to treat patients with schizophrenia.
According to a Drug Safety Communication issued on Sept. 15, the agency is modifying requirements for monitoring, prescribing, dispensing and receiving the drug “to address continuing safety concerns and current knowledge about a serious blood condition called severe neutropenia.
Severe neutropenia is a dangerously low number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infections. Severe neutropenia can be life-threatening”.
The FDA is making two changes involving ‘clozapine’. The agency has “clarified and enhanced the prescribing information for clozapine that explains how to monitor patients for neutropenia and manage ‘clozapine’ treatment.”
The FDA has also approved a new, shared risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) entitled the Clozapine REMS Program. These modifications will help in monitoring ‘clozapine’ patients for neutropenia, the agency said.
“The shared REMS is also expected to reduce the burden and possible confusion related to having separate registries for individual ‘clozapine’ medicines”.
The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529)