Gastrointestinal adverse effects of clozapine therapy
Adam Wysokiński

Clozapine is the ultimate therapeutic option for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Treatment with clozapine is often associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, such as: sialorrhea, constipations, bowel obstruction, liver failure (including fulminant hepatic failure), nausea and vomiting, increased appetite. This paper summarizes data on the incidence, mechanisms as well as preventive and therapeutic methods for sialorrhea, constipations and intestinal obstruction during treatment with clozapine. Several options may be used for the management of sialorrhea: clonidine, amitriptyline, pirenzepine and glycopyrrolate. Regarding constipations and obstruction, proper prevention (diet, physical activity) and the identification of patients at increased risk of these complications are particularly important. Patients receiving clozapine are exposed to a variety of gastrointestinal complications. Some of these (sialorrhea) may adversely affect the attitude towards treatment and lead to non-compliance. Other (e.g. intestinal obstruction) can be life-threatening and require intensive surgical treatment. For this reason, efforts should be made to detect modifiable risk factors, provide an early diagnosis of these complications and implement appropriate treatment.