The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update | 2019
Altered clozapine concentrations associated with e‐cigarettes
Abstract
Cigarette smokers have increasingly substituted traditional combustible cigarettes with electronic cigarettes, with the latter perceived by most consumers to be less harmful. However, there can be unanticipated drug interactions mediated by modulation of cytochrome P‐450 enzyme activity when a consumer switches from traditional cigarettes. This is especially relevant to patients with schizophrenia who are treated with clozapine, as they tend to smoke more and their smoking can affect metabolism of the antipsychotic.