Drug Interactions With Clozapine

Drug interactions with clozapine can occur when the medication is taken with blood pressure medications, certain antibiotics, or nicotine, for example. These interactions can decrease the effectiveness of the medications or increase the levels of the medications in your blood (potentially increasing your risk of side effects). To prevent drug interactions with clozapine from occurring, your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage of the medications.

 

An Introduction to Drug Interactions With Clozapine

Clozapine (Clozaril®, FazaClo®) can potentially interact with a number of other medicines. Some of these medicines that may lead to drug interactions with clozapine include:
 
  • Benzodiazepines, such as:
 
 
 
  • Certain antibiotics or antifungals, including:
 
    • Clarithromycin (Biaxin®)
    • Erythromycin (Ery-Tab®)
    • Ketoconazole (Nizoral®)
    • Telithromycin (Ketek®)
 
  • Certain anticonvulsants, including:
 
 
 
 
  • Certain arrhythmia medications, including:
 
    • Propafenone (Rythmol®)
    • Flecainide (Tambocor®)
    • Quinidine
 
 
  • Nicotine
 
  • Phenothiazine medications, including:
 
 
  • Rifamycin antibiotics, including:
 
    • Rifabutin (Mycobutin®)
    • Rifampin (Rifadin®)
    • Rifapentine (Priftin®).
 
(Drug Interactions With Clozapine Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;