Clozapine and Hallucinations: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 11, 2015

For Schizophrenia "My daughter was prescribed Clozaril as a last resort because I refused to allow her to be admitted to a state hospital. Every other med combination had been tried for 5 years during which she was constantly psychotic, in and out of the hospital. That was nearly 3 years ago and she improves in tiny increments every day. We have learned a great deal during this 8 years: that most psychiatrists don't understand how to treat mental illness because most they don't believe in neurotransmission disorders. They really think 'behavioral health' is about poor choices caused by emotional trauma. Clozaril is the only effective med and it is used as a last resort in the USA. The shame is that it is a front line 'gold standard' med in Great Britain."

• res...
• January 26, 2018

For Schizophrenia "My daughter has had schizophrenia since she was 19 years old and had first gone through most of the other medications, which did not work well. She even attempted suicide. Finally, she was put on Clozapine, which helped her so much that she even managed to graduate with a BA. There are negative side effects such as constipation, weight gain (which she is fighting successfully with Weight Watchers), and her voices do break through once in a while and some psychosis sometimes. But she is incredibly resilient. All in all, clozapine is, to her, like a wonder drug. Hopefully, better medications will arrive in the future."

• I W...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 14, 2016

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I took this medicine for 6 years as a teenager for 'bipolar' (which we found out was a misdiagnosis). This medication made me miserable. I felt like I had died and somehow was still walking the Earth. For the first couple of years, I became extremely paranoid, which I had never had a problem with before taking the medicine. The depression was still there. As the dose was gradually decreased, I felt a bit better but still had that feeling of dread. You eat everything. You sleep all the time. You don't care about anything. Coming off of the medicine is almost as bad as being on it! I had severe headaches and nausea, and I lost 10 pounds almost instantly. Clozapine has its place, but you should think hard before taking it."

• Sha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 3, 2020

For Schizophrenia "Clozapine is the best drug for treating schizophrenia, my daughter is able to function better day to day. Only has auditory hallucinations now and again but copes with them a lot better. Mood and concentration are so much better too. Would recommend if you have no success on other meds."

• Tra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 18, 2019

For Paranoid Disorder "My husband has been given a chemical lobotomy. He can't sit still, he bounces and makes faces while watching TV, and that's all he does all day. I can't take him anywhere, he bugs his eyes out at people and makes monkey faces. How on earth did this questionable drug get approved? He is totally unproductive, slow, forgetful, and delusional."

• CJK...
• July 7, 2015

For Schizophrenia "I've been on it for 4 weeks, and I don't see a big difference. I used to socialize at coffee shops, but now I feel paranoid, and I want to stay home. There are so many other things that can be wrong since I take several other meds like Depakote ER and Zoloft. I'm going to see my doctor this week, and hopefully find something to help with mood stabilization."