Indications
Flupentixol is an antipsychotic medicine used:
- At low doses by mouth, for short-term treatment of mild to moderate depression, especially with anxiety or low energy; it is often combined with Melitracen
- At higher doses, or as a long-acting injection, for schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses
How It Works
Flupentixol acts on brain chemical messengers, mainly dopamine. Low doses can improve mood and reduce anxiety, while higher doses block dopamine receptors and reduce symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and disturbed thinking.
Dosage and Administration
- Depression or anxiety, adults: usually 1 mg once a day in the morning, which the doctor may increase to 2 mg a day. Older people usually start with 0.5 mg a day. Take the last dose before about 4 pm, as it can disturb sleep.
- Schizophrenia and psychosis: tablets or long-acting injection, as prescribed. The injection is given into a muscle by a doctor or nurse, usually every few weeks.
- Not for children.
Do not stop suddenly after long use; the doctor will reduce the dose gradually.
Interactions
- Alcohol, sleeping tablets, strong painkillers and sedating antihistamines increase drowsiness.
- It reduces the effect of Levodopa and other Parkinson’s medicines.
- Medicines that affect heart rhythm, such as Amiodarone, Sotalol, some antibiotics and some antidepressants, raise the risk of an abnormal heartbeat.
- Metoclopramide increases the risk of abnormal movements.
- Lithium: rarely, serious nerve side effects.
Contraindications
- Allergy to flupentixol or any ingredient of the product
- Reduced consciousness, or poisoning with alcohol, sedatives or opioids
- Low-dose use in people who are very excited or overactive, as it may make this worse
- Serious blood disorders
Side Effects
Common: restlessness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, dizziness, tremor, muscle stiffness, weight gain, and breast or period changes. Long-term use can cause uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue or limbs (tardive dyskinesia).
Get urgent medical help for high fever with stiff muscles, sweating and confusion; a fast or irregular heartbeat or fainting; pain or swelling in a leg, chest pain or breathlessness; fever, sore throat or mouth ulcers; worsening depression or thoughts of harming yourself; or swelling of the face, lips or throat.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Use in pregnancy only if the doctor decides it is needed; use in the last three months can cause movement problems or withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Small amounts pass into breast milk; the doctor will advise, and the baby should be watched for drowsiness.
Precautions and Warnings
- Tell the doctor about epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, or a personal or family history of blood clots.
- Older people with dementia have a higher risk of stroke and death with antipsychotic medicines.
- It may cause drowsiness or dizziness; do not drive until you know how it affects you.
- If low-dose treatment for depression does not help within about a week, see the doctor.
Overdose
Overdose can cause severe drowsiness, coma, abnormal movements, low blood pressure, fits and heart rhythm problems. This is an emergency; get urgent medical help.
Therapeutic Class
Antipsychotic (thioxanthene).
Storage
Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.