Safe and quality use of clozapine in Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) Services
Guideline number: QH-GDL-437:2021
Effective date: 21 December 2021
Review date: 21 December 2025
Supersedes: Version 2
Clozapine, tradename Clozaril® or Clopine®, is a medication regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) - Highly Specialised Drugs Program (PBS S100). It is used for the management of schizophrenia, treatment resistant to other antipsychotic medications. Patients may only be prescribed clozapine when mandatory blood testing, regular administration and other monitoring requirements can be achieved.
This guideline supports the safe and effective use of clozapine therapy in alignment with the need to:
- support decision making
- minimise the risk of patients experiencing adverse events, and
- standardise evidence-based practice.
This guideline supports the National Safety and Quality in Health Service (second edition) Medication Safety Standard. It must be used with the clozapine patient monitoring services protocols, with consideration of the manufacturer’s published guidance, state and local protocols and procedures. It complements these references and does not replace them.