Fluphenazine

• Fluphenazine is used for:
• Treatment and maintenance of chronic schizophrenic people
• Treatment of paranoid psychosis

When should one not use Fluphenazine

• If you are hypersensitive to any active or inactive ingredients of this medicine.
• If you have suspected or established neurological damage (sub-cortical brain damage).
• If you have underlying liver disease.
• If you have been diagnosed with renal failure.
• If you are under the effects of other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, in a severely depressed state, or comatose; this medicine is contraindicated in such cases.
• If you have established blood dyscrasias; this medicine is contraindicated for such persons.
• If you have been diagnosed with heart failure; this medicine is contraindicated for such persons.
• If you are a child; this medicine is not permitted for use in children.
• If you have been diagnosed with narrow-angle glaucoma; this medicine is contraindicated for such persons.
• If you experience urinary retention and have an enlarged prostate; this medicine is contraindicated in such cases.
• If you are an older adult with psychosis associated with degenerative brain conditions, there is a black-box warning for increased risk of stroke and death in such cases.

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Side effects of Fluphenazine include:
• Drowsiness
• Lethargy
• Blurring of vision
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Urinary retention
• Fall in blood pressure with a change in position (orthostatic hypotension)
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abnormal movements
• Parkinson-like symptoms (increased muscle tone, stooped gait, tremors, and generalised slowing of movements)

Other General Warnings

• You have a history of seizures or are taking any medications known to decrease seizure potential.
• You experience sudden changes in mood or worsening of the symptoms of schizophrenia.

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• This medication should not be used with central nervous system (CNS) depressants like alcohol.
• It should not be used with hypertensives like guanethidine and clonidine, which block the action of adrenergic receptors.
• This medicine should not be administered on a person taking Levodopa for Parkinsonism; Fluphenazine decreases the efficacy of Levodopa.
• This medicine impairs the efficacy of seizure and diabetic medications.
• Fluphenazine increases the effect of blood thinners and hence must be used very cautiously.
• Fluphenazine increases the effects of antidepressants.
• This medicine should not be administered with certain medications like quinidine, procainamide, sotalol, pimozide, pentamidine, and ibutilide, as they can cause irregular heart rhythms.
• Concurrent monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) use can increase neurological side effects like sedation and respiratory depression.
• Fluphenazine, along with hypertensive medicines belonging to the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and angiotensin II antagonist groups, can cause a severe fall in blood pressure.

Overdose

Missed a Dose