"I was on a monthly injection that caused me bad shakes. I'm in hospital. My psychiatirst said I might develop slinesia or something like that. My legs would jerk occasionally. I agreed to go for a trial of clozapine to avoid getting this slinesia.

My psychiatrist kept me on the injections and started me on a small dose of clozapine.

On the first night of treatment, about 2 hours after the first dose of clozapine (12.5mg), I had some violent shakes while in bed. I heard that clozapine is a powerful drug. I think it must be due to the clozapine causing all this. So I decided to stop it. I think it is making me sick. I think the psychiatrist is trying to poison me. Can I sue the psychiatrist?"

Our guidance:
1. It is most unlikely that a single such a small dose of clozapine would cause or contribute to the problems you experienced.
2. You had experienced these problems with the injections so the clozapine may not be causing it.
3. You need to discuss this very openly with your psychiatrist and a multidisciplinary team. In addition you should ask to speak with a qualified pharmacist.
4. The condition your psychiatrist is probably worried about is tardive dyskinesia. It is a potentially irreversible neurological condition that involves very strange movements of the limbs, trunk, face, and tongue. If that is the condition your psychiatrist is trying to avoid, s/he seems to be doing the right thing. It is for you to clarify these matters with your treating psychiatrist.
5. It is difficult to see that the psychiatrist has caused you damage, or that s/he was negligent. However, if you feel particularly aggrieved you should discuss your case with a lawyer.