Which statement about clozapine is true?

• A. It carries a risk of agranulocytosis
• B. It has no metabolic side effects
• C. It does not cause sedation
• D. It does not require blood monitoring

Answer: (A)

Clozapine carries a risk of agranulocytosis, a potentially life-threatening drop in neutrophils. Because of this, it requires regular blood monitoring before and during treatment, with specific thresholds that can necessitate stopping the medication if the neutrophil count falls too low. This safety feature is a defining aspect of clozapine use and drives the monitoring program around it.

Metabolic side effects are common with clozapine, including weight gain, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance, so the statement that there are no metabolic side effects isn’t accurate. Sedation can occur, especially early in treatment, due to its receptor profile, so the claim that it does not cause sedation isn’t correct either. Finally, the need for ongoing blood monitoring makes the statement that it does not require monitoring false.