PEDIATRIC CLOZAPINE INTOXICATION

Clozapine is a tricyclic dibenzodiazepine derivative used as an antips ychotic in adults, Clozapine's safety in children has not been establi shed, This report describes three unintentional clozapine ingestions i n pediatric patients, These are the first reported cases of clozapine intoxication in children, All three patients demonstrated dramatic alt erations in mental status and tone, and two demonstrated extrapyramida l effects, Serum clozapine levels obtained in two patients were within the average range of steady state plasma concentrations for adults, T hese cases show the dramatic presentations of pediatric ingestion of c lozapine and the differences between adult and pediatric intoxications . Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company