"Health" requires a company to add warnings to a drug to treat schizophrenia

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection has obligated the manufacturer of the drug Leponex, which is used to treat schizophrenia, to add warnings to the product about the potential for causing serious health complications in the intestine that may cause death.

According to a circular issued by the Ministry, the company "Novartis URUNLeRI", which manufactures the drug "LEPHONEX", used to treat schizophrenia, is obligated to add a warning to the drug, due to constipation caused by the active substance clozapine, which may lead to serious complications in the intestine, and hospitalization of the patient Or death, if constipation is not diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.

The Ministry recommended health facilities and health care practitioners to evaluate bowel function before prescribing a drug containing "clozapine" for their patients, and not to prescribe it with "anticholinergic" drugs, which could cause a decrease in the movement of the gut.

She stressed the need to inform patients of the risks of constipation and life-threatening intestinal problems when dispensing the aforementioned drugs, and the need to prescribe medications to prevent constipation, with the need to monitor patients about the frequency and movement of the intestine throughout the treatment period.

She called on doctors to instruct patients to review their specialist physicians immediately in the event of difficulty in bowel movement or stool at least three times a week, or in the case of the inability to pass gas, as well as the need to monitor patients to see symptoms of possible complications associated with weakness Movement of the digestive system such as nausea, flatulence or pain and vomiting, with the necessity of prescribing a laxative prophylactic treatment in conjunction with the drug "clozapine" in patients with constipation or bowel obstruction.

The Ministry stated in its circular that the mentioned product is registered with its drug administration, that it is safe to use, and that it has not been withdrawn from the market.