Summary Safety Review - Clozapine - Assessing the effectiveness of monitoring for low numbers of white blood cells

March 9, 2018, update: July 26, 2018

Product

Clozapine

Potential Safety Issue

Effectiveness of measures to monitor low numbers of white blood cells (agranulocytosis) with clozapine use

Key Messages

Overview

Clozapine is a prescription drug authorized for sale in Canada to manage symptoms of schizophrenia when other drugs have not helped.

Clozapine was developed in the 1960s. In 1975, clozapine was removed from the Canadian market because of reports of life-threatening infections and deaths linked with low numbers of white blood cells (i.e., agranulocytosis). Clozapine was re-introduced to the Canadian market in 1991, but patients must be enrolled in a patient registry program to monitor their white blood cell levels before their next prescription can be filled.

Between 1991 and 2003, clozapine was distributed by a single manufacturer, and patients were monitored by this manufacturer's specific registry. The introduction of generic clozapine has led to the establishment of other registries. In June 2004, Health Canada issued a safety communication to inform healthcare professionals that the product safety information had been revised related to concerns about information sharing between registries. During routine safety review activities, concerns were raised about whether or not these processes to monitor for low numbers of white blood cells were effective.

In 2017, Health Canada decided to review all available evidence related to the effectiveness of the white blood cell monitoring measures currently in place for clozapine.

Use in Canada

Safety Review Findings

Conclusions and Actions

Additional Information

The analysis that contributed to this safety review included scientific and medical literature, Canadian and international information, and what is known about the use of clozapine both in Canada and internationally.

For additional information, contact the Marketed Health Products Directorate.

Footnotes

Footnote a

Canadian reports can be accessed through the Canada Vigilance Online Database.

Return to footnote a referrer

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