An important reminder on clozapine prescribing for smoking cessation
ASH shares useful evidence-based resources to support healthcare professionals managing patients taking medicines such as clozapine who reduce or stop smoking
A recent news report has highlighted the risks associated with changes in smoking status for people who are prescribed clozapine.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) emphasis that stopping or significantly reducing smoking can affect the metabolism of clozapine, potentially leading to increased blood levels and toxicity if medication is not appropriately reviewed and monitored.
This serves as an important reminder for all healthcare professionals to ensure that changes in smoking status are routinely identified, recorded and communicated, particularly when supporting people with severe mental illness to stop smoking.
ASH has collated several useful evidence-based resources to support healthcare professionals managing patients taking medicines such as clozapine who reduce or stop smoking:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists ‘A practical guide to Wim’s Protocol for the safe prescribing and monitoring of clozapine’
- NICE British National Formulary information on clozapine and NICE guidance on smoking cessation
- NCSCT’s Tobacco Dependence and Mental Health – briefing for frontline staffÂ
- Specialist Pharmacy Service guidance on managing smoking interactions with clozapine
Supporting people to stop smoking remains one of the most important actions we can take to improve health outcomes. Ensuring appropriate medication review and monitoring when smoking habits change is an essential part of delivering safe and effective care.
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