Which medication is associated with the ANC monitoring schedule described above?

• A. Haloperidol
• B. Risperidone
• C. Clozapine
• D. Olanzapine

Answer: (C)

The situation being tested is the use of a medication that requires a specificANC monitoring plan because of a serious blood disorder risk. Clozapine is the one medication with this explicit, structured ANC monitoring due to the risk of agranulocytosis. Because neutrophil counts can drop abruptly on clozapine, clinicians implement a stepwise schedule: an initial baseline check before starting, then weekly monitoring for the first six months, followed by biweekly checks for months seven through twelve, and then monthly checks if counts remain stable. If the ANC falls too low, the dose may be reduced or the medication interrupted to protect the patient.

The other antipsychotics listed—haloperidol, risperidone, and olanzapine—do not come with the same mandated ANC monitoring plan. They are associated with other side effects and monitoring priorities, but not the routine absolute neutrophil count schedule that clozapine requires.