Psychotropic drug-induced neutropenia.

Psychotropic medications have been known to cause blood dyscrasias, including neutropenia, and since the advent of clozapine, this side effect is now increasingly being recognized. Almost all the major classes of psychotropic medications have been associated with neutropenia. Operational definitions for blood dyscrasias have allowed us to create an epidemiological database on this rare side effect of psychotropic medications. With increased awareness of drug-induced neutropenia among physicians, methods of early detection and treatment of this side effect have also been the focus of recent literature. Another area of active research has been identifying the risk factors and mechanism of drug-induced neutropenia. This article attempts to synthesize our current understanding of psychotropic drug-induced neutropenia and also provide insights into future research in this realm.