What is a critical lab value to monitor in clients taking clozapine?

Monitoring the white blood cell count (WBC) is critical for clients taking clozapine due to the risk of agranulocytosis, a potentially life-threatening side effect associated with this antipsychotic medication. Clozapine can impair the bone marrow’s ability to produce neutrophils, which are essential for fighting infections. Because of this risk, regular monitoring of the WBC and specifically the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is essential to ensure the safety of the patient.

Patients on clozapine typically undergo blood tests weekly for the first six months, transitioning to less frequent testing if their WBC remains stable, to promptly identify any significant drops in white blood cells. This proactive monitoring is part of a risk management strategy to mitigate serious complications associated with clozapine therapy.