Clozapine is the only antipsychotic approved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Its most serious and potentially fatal side effect is agranulocytosis, which necessitates mandatory weekly complete blood count (CBC) monitoring for the first 6 months, then bi-weekly, and eventually monthly, as per national guidelines (e.g., REMS program in the US). While ECG (A) is important due to cardiac risks (myocarditis, QTc prolongation), LFTs (C) for hepatotoxicity, and prolactin levels (D) for hyperprolactinemia are also relevant considerations for antipsychotic use, none are an *absolute prerequisite* for initiation with the same strictness and regulatory requirement as baseline CBC for agranulocytosis monitoring with clozapine.
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