Clozapine: Diabetes mellitus, weight gain, and lipid abnormalities

Clozapine remains the most effective agent for treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia, Recently, treatment with clozapine has been linked to a number of metabolic disturbances, including weight gain, diabetes mellitu s, and serum lipid abnormalities. Despite the potential risks of medical mo rbidities, clozapine continues to have a major role in the care of treatmen t-resistant patients with schizophrenia. This article discusses the diagnos is and significance of the above metabolic abnormalities and potential mech anisms for these abnormalities as well as recommendations for monitoring an d treatment.