Pericardial Effusion: Rare Adverse Effect of Clozapine

Abstract

Clozapine is a dibenzodiazepine antipsychotic used for resistant schizophrenia, which is known to be associated with side effects such as agranulocytosis, seizures, weight gain, and less commonly myocarditis/ cardiomyopathy. We present a case of a 20-year-old female who presented with chest pain, shortness of breath, and cough. She was later found to have clozapine-induced pericardial effusion that resolved after discontinuation of clozapine therapy. Our case discloses the importance to consider clozapine in the differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion as discontinuation of the drug leads to resolution of effusion, with no need for further treatment.