Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has provided to Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust to help ensure Clozapine is not misused in patients who consume alcohol or smoke while being prescribed that drug.

No specific guidance has been issued.

The product information for clozapine for healthcare professionals and patients advises against drinking alcohol during treatment with that drug. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency provided a Drug Safety Update which recommends that blood concentration of clozapine should be monitored for toxicity in clinical situations, such as during smoking cessation or if a patient transfers to e-cigarettes. The British National Formulary advises that dose adjustment may be necessary if a patient’s smoking habits change during treatment with clozapine.