Clozapine is a second generation antipsychotic licensed for Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia and requires regular blood monitoring. Previously, all patients treated with clozapine were registered with the clozapine patient monitoring service, ZTAS, and were dispensed Zaponex branded clozapine.
However, as of July 2019, NHS Forth Valley has switched to the Clozaril brand of clozapine. All patients treated with clozapine in Forth Valley will be registered with the clozapine patient monitoring service, now called Clozaril Patient Monitoring Service (CPMS). The patient, prescriber and registered pharmacy must all be registered.
The service aims to:
- improve safety and access to clozapine and provide medicine related advice through community pharmacies in a patient focused service
- promote partnership working between General Practice, Community Pharmacy and Specialist Mental Health Services (MHSS) within localities
- provide a single source of medicine supply for people prescribed clozapine (high risk medicine) and manage the potential risk of drug interactions with other medicines prescribed via General Practice
The following resources are intended to be information support tools for community pharmacies contracted to provide clozapine services. They contain specific sections to inform the safe and effective delivery of the service, in addition to any legislative guidance and advice. They aim to support community pharmacies in fulfilling their role as part of the multi-disciplinary, integrated team involved in the care of patients prescribed clozapine that are identified for community pharmacy dispensing.