From Drooling to Drowsiness: Strategies for Managing Clozapine’s Non-ANC Side Effects

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Course Description

Clozapine’s unique side effect profile can serve as a barrier to use and deter clinicians. This session tackles the full range, from constipation and sialorrhea to myocarditis and sedation, offering both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management strategies. Learners will gain tools to reduce treatment burden and improve adherence. Turn side effects into manageable aspects of care with confidence.

This is one of seven modules in the A New Era in Clozapine Management educational series. Complete your complimentary registration now to access this module and 6 other ACPE, AMA, ANCC, and AAPA accredited modules.

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Learning Objectives

  1. Name common and serious adverse effects associated with clozapine.
  2. Recognize monitoring and prevention strategies to mitigate treatment burden.
  3. Identify non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic management strategies for the adverse effects associated with clozapine.

Target Audience

We invite you to participate in this online course if you are a pharmacist, physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, nurse, or other health care professional involved in the care of individuals with serious mental illness.

Faculty

Megan J. Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP, FAAPP
View biographical information

Megan J. Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP, FAAPP | Professor, Co-Director of the Mental Health Program, Vice-Chair of Academic Affairs, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy

Dr. Ehret is a graduate of the University of Toledo where she completed her BS and PharmD degrees, and she went on to complete a Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency at the Louis Stokes VAMC, under the direction of Matthew Fuller. She then completed a Psychopharmacology and Pharmacogenomics Fellowship at Nova Southeastern University, under the direction of Gary Levin.  After training she received her initial faculty appointment at the University of Connecticut and gained tenure during her stay there.  While at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Ehret served as the Vice-Chair of the IRB, Director of Practices for the Center for Correctional Health Networks, and a faculty member for Project: ECHO: Buprenorphine. Currently, her full-time role is a Professor and Co-Director of the Mental Health Program at the University Of Maryland School Of Pharmacy with a practice site at The University of Maryland Mid Town Campus. Additionally, she also has the privilege of working with the State of Maryland Medicaid Program in evaluating antipsychotic use in the state, including development of clinical criteria for antipsychotics and authorizing and reviewing psychotropic use in the pediatric population.  She is a Past-President of AAPP and is the current BCPP Recertification Director.  Dr. Ehret has worked with the State of Maryland to establish regulations permitting community pharmacists the authority to administer maintenance injections. She has developed an interactive training program for students in administering long-acting injectable medications.   Dr. Ehret has numerous publications and book chapters describing psychotropic medication adherence and the role of pharmacogenomics in medication selection. Her current interests include psychotropic medication adherence and the advancement of the psychiatric pharmacist in practice. 

Course Requirements

To receive credit for this session, you must:

  • Register for this course.
  • Complete the pre-activity survey (completion required only once for the entire clozapine program).
  • Complete the pre-test before starting the activity.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the post-test at the end of the activity no later than the closing activity date.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • If necessary, complete the post-test retest no later than the closing activity date.
  • Receive a passing grade (70%).
  • If earning ACPE credit from AAPP: Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.
  • If earning other credit types: Please see the information detailed under the Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures section below.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Dates: 11/3/2025-11/3/2027

Pharmacist ACPE Contact Hours: 1.0
ACPE Number: 0284-9999-25-044-H01-P (Knowledge)

The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Jointly Accredited Provider
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by CME Outfitters, LLC, and American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. CME Outfitters is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
  • This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education Credit for learning and change.
  • Physicians (ACCME): CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this internet point-of-care activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • Nurses (ANCC): This activity is designated for 1.0 contact hours.
  • All other healthcare professionals may receive a Certificate of Participation stating this activity was certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

At the end of the course, you will be provided with the activity’s evaluation link and print your certificate or statement of credit. Credit request forms, and activity evaluations must be completed online (requires free account activation), and participants can print their certificate or statement of credit immediately. This website supports all browsers except Internet Explorer for Mac. For complete technical requirements and privacy policy, visit https://www.cmeoutfitters.com/privacy-and-confidentiality-policy

Faculty for This Clozapine Module:

  • Megan J. Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP, FAAPP discloses: Consultant – Saladax Biomedical

Planning Committee:

  • Andria F. Church, PharmD, BCPP (AAPP) has nothing to disclose
  • Candice Gillett, MPH (CMEO) has nothing to disclose

Peer Reviewers and Content Reviewers:

  • Content Reviewer (AAPP) - Beth DeJongh, PharmD, FAAPP, BCPP, BCPS has nothing to disclose
  • Content Reviewer (CMEO) - Scott J. Hershman, MD, FACEHP, CHCP has nothing to disclose
  • Peer Reviewer - Kristen Choi, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN has nothing to disclose
  • Peer Reviewer - Chad Koyanagi, MD has nothing to disclose
  • Peer Reviewer - Michael Shuman, PharmD, BCPP has nothing to disclose

 Disclosures were obtained from the CME Outfitters, LLC staff: Nothing to disclose.
*All identified conflicts of interest have been mitigated.

CME Outfitters Disclosure Declaration: It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor, and integrity in all of their CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, or with the commercial supporter of this CE activity. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and mitigated any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that these relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.  

AAPP Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure: Faculty of this CME/CE activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. The faculty have been informed of their responsibility to disclose to the audience if they will be discussing off-label or investigational uses (any uses not approved by the FDA) of products or devices. CME Outfitters, LLC, the faculty, planners, and American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists do not endorse the use of any product outside of the FDA labeled indications. Medical professionals should not utilize the procedures, products, or diagnosis techniques discussed during this activity without evaluation of their patient for contraindications or dangers of use. 

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AAPP owns the copyright, is licensed or has received permissions for use of, or is otherwise permitted to use copyrighted materials within any CPE activity. Authors and speakers are required to obtain necessary copyright permissions for content in CPE activities. AAPP complies with copyright laws and regulations.

Questions? Contact AAPP.

It is the policy of AAPP to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in continuing education activities. Those involved in the development of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the reader is advised to check the manufacturer’s package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.

Fair balance is achieved through ongoing and thorough review of all materials produced by faculty, and all educational and advertising materials produced by supporting organizations, prior to educational offerings. Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by AAPP for any product or manufacturer identified.