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White Blood Cell (WBC) Monitoring

Patients NEW to Clozapine Treatment

Patients who have never received treatment with any clozapine formulation will be monitored according to the schedule detailed in Table 1 below. During the first 6 months of FazaClo treatment, WBC count and ANC test results must be monitored on a weekly basis. If the WBC count does not fall below 3500/mm3 and ANC below 2000/mm3 during the first 6 months of treatment, the frequency of monitoring can be decreased to once every 2 weeks for the next 6 months. If the WBC count does not fall below 3500/mm3 and ANC below 2000/mm3 during the next 6 months of treatment, the frequency of monitoring can be decreased to once every 4 weeks, thereafter, ad infinitum.

Completed WBC and ANC test results and corresponding dates of blood draws and treatment dispensation information will be submitted on WBC count and ANC Monitoring Forms (Click here to obtain a WBC count and ANC Monitoring Form) by the pharmacists to the FazaClo® Patient Registry according to the data submission timeline outlined below.

 

Patients CONTINUING on Clozapine Treatment

Patients who are currently receiving treatment with another formulation of clozapine and are switched to FazaClo treatment will be monitored according to the schedule detailed in Table 1 below.. During the first 6 months of clozapine treatment (including time on prior clozapine treatment as well as current treatment with FazaClo), blood test results must be monitored on a weekly basis. If the WBC count does not fall below 3500/mm3 and the ANC below 2000/mm3 during the first 6 months of combined treatment with all formulations of clozapine, the frequency of monitoring can be decreased to once every 2 weeks for the next 6 months. Following the first 6 months and after a total of 12 months of treatment (including time on prior clozapine treatment as well as current treatment with FazaClo), if the WBC count does not fall below 3500/mm3 and the ANC below 2000/mm3, the frequency of monitoring can be decreased to once every 4 weeks, thereafter, ad infinitum.

Completed WBC count and ANC Monitoring Forms (Click here to obtain a WBC count and ANC Monitoring Form) including WBC and ANC test results and corresponding dates of blood draws and treatment dispensation information will be submitted by pharmacists to the FazaClo Patient Registry according to the data submission timeline outlined below.

Table 1: Frequency of Monitoring Based on Stage of Therapy or Results from WBC Count and ANC Monitoring Tests

Situation

Hematological Values for Monitoring

Frequency of WBC and ANC Monitoring

Initiation of therapy

WBC ≥3500/mm3 ANC ≥2000/mm3 Note: Do not initiate in patients with (1) history of myeloproliferative disorder or (2) clozapine-induced agranulocytosis or granulocytopenia.

Weekly for 6 months

6-12 months of therapy

All results for WBC ≥3500/mm3 and ANC ≥2000/mm3

Every 2 weeks for 6 months

12 months of therapy

All results for WBC ≥3500/mm3 and ANC ≥2000/mm3

Every 4 weeks ad infinitum

Immature forms present N/A Repeat WBC and ANC
Discontinuation of Therapy N/A Weekly for at least 4 weeks from day of discontinuation or until WBC ≥ 3500/mm3 and ANC ≥ 2000/mm3
Substantial drop in WBC or ANC Single drop or cumulative drop within 3 weeks of WBC ≥3000/mm3 or ANC ≥1500/mm3 1. Repeat WBC and ANC
2. If repeat values are 3000/mm3 ≤ WBC≤ 3500/mm3 and ANC > 2000/mm3, then monitor twice weekly
Mild leukopenia
Mild granulocytopenia
3500/mm3>WBC≥3000/mm3
and/or
2000/mm3>ANC≥1500/mm3
Twice-weekly until WBC >3500/mm3 and ANC >2000/mm3 then return to previous monitoring frequency
Moderate leukopenia
Moderate granulocytopenia
3000/mm3>WBC≥2000/mm3
and/or
1500/mm3>ANC≥1000/mm3
1. Interrupt therapy
2. Daily until WBC > 3000/mm3 and ANC >1500/mm3
3. Twice-weekly until WBC > 3500/mm3 and ANC > 2000/mm3
4. May rechallenge when WBC > 3500/mm3 and ANC > 2000/mm3
5. If rechallenged, monitor weekly for 1 year before returning to the usual monitoring schedule of every 2 weeks for 6 months and then every 4 weeks ad infinitum
Severe leukopenia
Severe granulocytopenia
WBC <2000/mm3
and/or
ANC <1000/mm3
1. Discontinue treatment and do not rechallenge patient
2. Monitor until normal and for at least four weeks from the day of discontinuation as follows:
• Daily until WBC >3000/mm3 and ANC >1500/mm3
• Twice weekly until WBC >3500/mm3 and ANC >2000/mm3
• Weekly after WBC >3500/mm3
Agranulocytosis ANC <500/mm3 1. Discontinue treatment and do not rechallenge patient
2. Monitor until normal but for at least four weeks from the day of discontinuation as follows:
• Daily until WBC >3000/mm3 and ANC >1500/mm3
• Twice weekly until WBC >3500/mm3 and ANC >2000/mm3
• Weekly after WBC >3500/mm3

WBC = White blood cell count        ANC = Absolute neutrophil count


 

Patients Experiencing a BREAK on Clozapine Treatment

Patients whose treatment with a formulation of clozapine other than FazaClo has been interrupted will be monitored according to the schedule detailed in Table 2 below. The schedules for patients who were on FazaClo or another clozapine treatment for less than 6 months prior to the treatment break, for patients who were on FazaClo or another clozapine treatment for 6 12 months, and for patients on FazaClo or another clozapine for 12 months or longer are presented in sections I, II, and III, respectively. The monitoring schedule will depend on the time patients were on clozapine prior to treatment interruption, the length of the interruption, and the blood-event status. An abnormal blood event is defined as a WBC count below 3500/mm3 or ANC below 2000/mm3.

Completed WBC count and ANC Monitoring Forms (Click here to obtain a WBC count and ANC Monitoring Form) including WBC and ANC test results and corresponding dates of blood draws and treatment dispensation information will be submitted by pharmacists to the FazaClo Patient Registry according to the data submission timeline outlined below.

Table 2: Monitoring Schedule: Patients Experiencing BREAK in Clozapine Therapy

Section I—Patients on therapy for less than 6 months who have experienced a break in therapy

Duration of therapy break from clozapine Blood events Frequency of WBC count and ANC monitoring

3 Days to 1 month

No Abnormal Weekly WBC count and ANC monitoring for up to 6 months of therapy, then may reduce to every 2 weeks for the next 6 months, and, to every 4 weeks indefinitely after 12 months of use. If all WBC counts ≥3500/mm3 and all ANCs ≥2000/mm3, transition to reduce frequency of monitoring is permitted.
>1 month No Abnormal Must restart 6-month period of weekly WBC count and ANC monitoring at Day 0.
ANY Abnormal (but patient remains rechallengeable)* If WBC count between ≥3000/mm3 and <3500/mm3 and/or ANC falls between ≥1500/mm3 and <2000/mm3 then twice-weekly. Once values return to WBC count >3500/mm3 and ANC >2000/mm3, resume previous monitoring frequency. However, if WBC count between ≥2000/mm3 and <3000/mm3 and/or ANC between ≥1000/mm3 and <1500/mm3, interrupt therapy, daily WBC and ANC monitoring until WBC >3000/mm3 and ANC >1500 /mm3, then once values return to WBC count >3500/mm3 and ANC >2000/mm3 may rechallenge with monitoring of WBC count and ANC weekly for 1 year before returning to previous monitoring schedule.

Section II - Patients on therapy for 6 to 12 months who have experienced a break in therapy

Duration of therapy break from clozapine Blood events Frequency of WBC count and ANC monitoring
3 Days to ≤1 month No Abnormal Weekly WBC count and ANC monitoring for 6 weeks, then may reduce to every 2 weeks for the next 6 months. If all WBC counts ≥3500/mm3 and ANCs ≥2000/mm3, transition to reduce frequency of monitoring is permitted.
>1 month No Abnormal Weekly WBC count and ANC monitoring for 6 months of therapy, then may reduce to every 2 weeks for the next 6 months. If all WBC counts ≥3500/mm3 and ANCs ≥2000/mm3, transition to reduce frequency of monitoring is permitted.
ANY Abnormal (but patient remains rechallengeable)* If WBC count falls between ≥3000/mm3 and <3500/mm3 and/or ANC falls between ≥1500/mm3 and <2000/mm3 then twice-weekly. Once values return to WBC count >3500/mm3 and ANC >2000/mm3, resume previous monitoring frequency. However, if WBC count between ≥2000/mm3 and <3000/mm3 and/or ANC between ≥1000/mm3 and <1500/mm3, interrupt therapy, daily WBC and ANC monitoring until WBC >3000/mm3 and ANC >1500/mm3 then once values return to WBC count >3500/mm3 and ANC >2000/mm3 may rechallenge with monitoring of WBC count and ANC weekly for 1 year before returning to previous monitoring schedule.

Section III - Patients on therapy for greater than 12 months who have experienced a break in therapy

Duration of therapy break from clozapine Blood events Frequency of WBC count and ANC monitoring
3 Days to ≤1 month No Abnormal Weekly WBC count and ANC monitoring for 6 weeks, then return to monitoring every 4 weeks. If all WBC counts ≥3500/mm3 and ANCs ≥2000/mm3 transition to reduce frequency of monitoring is permitted.
>1 month No Abnormal Weekly WBC count and ANC monitoring for 6 months of therapy, then may reduce to every 2 weeks for the next 6 months, and, finally, return to every 4 weeks after 12 months of use. If all WBC counts >3500/mm3 and ANCs ≥2000/mm3 transition to reduce frequency of monitoring is permitted.
ANY Abnormal (but patient remains rechallengeable)* If WBC count between ≥3000/mm3 and <3500/mm3 and/or ANC falls between ≥1500/mm3 and <2000/mm3 then twice weekly. Once values return to WBC count >3500/mm3 and ANC >2000/mm3, resume previous monitoring frequency. However, if WBC count between ≥2000/mm3 and <3000/mm3 and/or ANC between ≥1000/mm3 and <1500/mm3, then once values return to WBC count >3500/mm3 and ANC >2000/mm3 may rechallenge with monitoring of WBC count and ANC weekly for 1 year before returning to previous monitoring schedule.

*Patients can be rechallenged with FazaClo if all WBC counts are above 2000/mm3 and all ANCs are above 1000/mm3.

Patients eligible for FazaClo fall into one of the following categories:

NEW - A patient who has never received treatment with any clozapine formulation

CONTINUING - A patient who is currently receiving treatment with a formulation of clozapine other than FazaClo.

INTERRUPTED THERAPY (BREAK) - A patient whose treatment with a formulation of clozapine other than the FazaClo formulation has been temporarily discontinued or interrupted due to an abnormal blood level as defined by clozapine labeling or another reason not due to an abnormal blood level.

 

Patients not eligible for FazaClo fall into the following category:

PERMANENTLY DISCONTINUED - patient whose treatment with FazaClo or another formulation of clozapine other than FazaClo has been permanently discontinued because they meet non-rechallenge criteria (WBC count <2000/mm3 and/or ANC <1000/mm3) and are listed in the Clozapine National Non-Rechallenge Masterfile (such patients are at risk for developing agranulocytosis and should never be rechallenged with any clozapine product).

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