Clozapine & Schizophrenia with Michael Cummings, MD

00:00:00 - Introduction: Dr. Michael Cummings and Clozapine Updates 00:00:36 - FDA Scraps Clozapine REMS Program: What It Means 00:03:17 - Early Risks of Neutropenia and Updated Monitoring Guidelines 00:06:08 - Clozapine for Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia 00:08:17 - Dosing Strategies and Blood Level Targets for Clozapine 00:12:09 - Effects of Smoking and Gender on Clozapine Blood Levels 00:13:13 - Clozapine-Induced OCD Symptoms: Management Strategies 00:16:16 - Biggest Cause of Death on Clozapine: Constipation and Bowel Obstruction 00:17:20 - Clozapine Use in Parkinson’s Disease and Tardive Dyskinesia 00:18:44 - Dangerous Drug Interactions: Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Ciprofloxacin 00:20:51 - Managing Clozapine-Induced Drooling and Salivation 00:24:02 - Clozapine Reduces Mortality in Schizophrenia Patients 00:25:29 - Managing Sedation and Orthostasis in Clozapine Initiation 00:27:32 - Seizure Risk with High Clozapine Levels: How to Respond 00:30:39 - Fever After Clozapine Initiation: Myocarditis or Benign? 00:34:09 - Rechallenging Clozapine After Myocarditis: Slow Titration Strategies 00:37:15 - Risks of Abrupt Clozapine Discontinuation and Cholinergic Rebound 00:41:06 - Awakening Syndrome: Patients Realizing Life Impact Post-Psychosis 00:45:28 - Understanding and Managing Akathisia and Movement Disorders 00:50:05 - Treatments for Tardive Akathisia and Withdrawal Syndromes 00:53:59 - Polypharmacy: Combining Clozapine with Other Antipsychotics 00:57:23 - CYP1A2 Inhibitors and Clozapine Drug Interactions 01:00:03 - Smoking, Vaping, and Clozapine Plasma Levels 01:05:04 - Cannabis Use and Psychosis Risk with Clozapine Patients 01:06:45 - Clozapine’s Impact on BDNF, Neurotrophic Factors, and Inflammation 01:09:09 - Genetic Risks and Schizophrenia: Advances and Challenges 01:11:51 - Treating Catatonia: Lorazepam Challenge and Slow Benzodiazepine Tapers 01:18:53 - Recognizing Catatonia on Inpatient Units: Practical Pearls 01:23:33 - Defending Psychiatry: Severe Mental Illness as Brain Disease 01:25:27 - Future of Psychiatry: Preventing Schizophrenia and Genetic Screening Join Dr. David Puder and renowned psychopharmacologist Dr. Michael Cummings in this comprehensive episode focused on Clozapine—the most effective medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Discover recent groundbreaking updates, including the elimination of the Clozapine REMS program, making treatment more accessible and streamlined for clinicians and patients. Learn about Clozapine dosing strategies, managing common and serious side effects, important drug interactions, and special considerations for conditions like catatonia and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. This episode is filled with practical insights designed for psychiatrists, mental health providers, and anyone interested in advanced psychiatric care. Link to Blog: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/psy... By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/cme...