Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Clozapine is a key atypical antipsychotic used in treatment-resistant schizophrenia, but its gastrointestinal adverse effects are most often limited to constipation. This report describes a rare case of clozapine-induced diarrhea in a 44-year-old male hospitalized for resistant schizophrenia. Two weeks after initiating clozapine (400 mg/day), the patient developed profuse watery diarrhea with mild abdominal pain and leukocytosis, but without major inflammatory signs. Infectious and inflammatory causes were suspected, but diarrhea resolved quickly after clozapine withdrawal, suggesting a probable drug-related effect. The case emphasizes that, although rare, diarrhea can occur under clozapine treatment, possibly through immune-mediated or mucosal toxicity mechanisms. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion and collaborate with gastroenterology for diagnosis, as early recognition can avoid unnecessary investigations and prolonged treatment interruption.
Authors: A. Korchi, N Ait Benssaid, H Nafia, M Sabir
Institution: Mohammed V University
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414136151