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Weight gain - This is the side effect that many people complain about. It is more severe in some medications than in others.
Anticholinergic effects - This includes dry mouth and throat, constipation, blurring of vision and fluid Retention.
Extrapyramidal effects (movement disorders) - These are involuntary physical movements such as tremors, muscle spasm or uncontrollable restlessness. Movement disorders include parkinsonism, dystonia, akathisia and tardive dyskinesia (below).
Parkinsonism - Limb stiffness and tremor: slowness of movement, rigidity, and shaky hands.
Postural hypotension - Dizziness on sitting up or standing suddenly.
Akathisia - Body restlessness: feeling uncomfortably restless or unable to keep still.
Tardive dyskinesia - Involuntary movement of muscles, usually in the mouth, tongue and jaw.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - This is a rare but potentially fatal, and can develop at any time during treatment with Syndrome antipsychotic medication. It is characterised by muscle rigidity, an increased body temperature (usually above 38.5 degrees), altered levels of consciousness, high blood pressure and an abnormally fast heartbeat. It occurs in less than 1 in 500 of people taking antipsychotic medication, but this is yet to be confirmed. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome usually occurs very early in treatment or soon after an increase in medication dosage. If any person taking antipsychotic medication shows signs of these symptoms, it should be treated as a medical emergency and the person should be taken to hospital immediately.
Agranulocytosis - This is a serious side effect associated with clozapine. It is a condition in which white blood cells are not produced in an adequate quantity by the bone marrow. In some cases it can be fatal. Agranulocytosis occurs in approximately one percent of the people using clozapine. Research has shown, however, that this rate drops dramatically after the first year of treatment with 80% of cases occurring in the first 18 weeks.
Myocarditis - This is a very rare but potentially fatal side-effect also associated with clozapine. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart-lining and can occur primarily during, but is not limited to the first month of treatment with clozapine. Unexplained fatigue, fever, chest pains, palpitations or malaise, could be indicators for this condition.
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