Why have I been prescribed Fluanxol?

• Fluanxol (Flupentixol) is used to treat depression in patients who may, or may not, also be showing signs of anxiety.
• Your doctor, however, may prescribe Fluanxol for another purpose. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Fluanxol has been prescribed for you.

How does it work?

• Flupentixol works by correcting the chemical imbalance found in the brain in patients with depression.

When and how do I take it?

• Fluanxol can be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Do not chew them. Fluanxol is usually taken as a single daily dose in the morning.
• Doses higher than 2mg per day in adults (and 1 mg in the elderly) should be divided into a morning dose and an afternoon dose.

What’s the dose?

• The usual starting dose is 1 mg per day. After a week your doctor may increase this to 2 mg per day. The maximum dose is 3 mg per day.
• Elderly patients (above 65 years): The usual starting dose is 0.5 mg. After a week your doctor may increase this to 1 mg per day. The maximum dose is 1.5 mg per day.

Could it interact with other tablets?

Some medicines may affect the actions of another and this can sometimes cause serious adverse reactions.
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Tricyclic antidepressant medicines
• Guanethidine, hydralazine and similar medicines (used to lower the blood pressure)
• Alcohol and other medicines that make you drowsy such as barbituates
• Medicines used to treat epilepsy (e.g. phenytoin, sodium valproate, gabapentin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine)
• Levodopa and similar medicines (used to treat Parkinson’s disease)
• Metoclopramide (used in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders)
• Piperazine (used in the treatment of roundworm and threadworm infections)
• Digoxin (used in the treatment of heart conditions)
• Corticosteriods (used to treat a range of conditions, including inflammatory diseases)
• Warfarin and similar medicines called anticoagulants (used to thin the blood)
• Medicines such as diuretics (water tablets) that cause a disturbed water or salt balance (too little potassium or magnesium in your blood)
• Medicines such as terbinafine (antifungal), fluoxetine and paroxetine (antidepressants) which may cause increased blood levels of Fluanxol

The following medicines should not be taken at the same time as Fluanxol:

• Medicines that change the heartbeat (quinidine, amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, erythromycin, terfenadine, astemizole, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, cisapride, lithium).
• Other antipsychotic medicines (e.g. thioridazine)

Herbal supplements should be used with caution and only after informing your doctor first.

What are the possible risks or side-effects?

Like all medicines, http://patient.info/medicine/flupentixol-tablets-depixol-fluanxol can cause side effects although not everybody gets them.
Side effects are most pronounced in the beginning of the treatment and most of them usually wear off during continued treatment.

Very common (in 1 or more out of 10 persons):

• Sleepiness (somnolence), inability to sit still or remain motionless (akathisia), involuntary movements (hyperkinesia), slow or diminished movements (hypokinesia)
• Dry mouth

Common (in more than 1 out of 100 persons and less than 1 out of 10 persons):

• Racing heart (tachycardia), a sensation of a rapid, forceful, or irregular beating of the heart (palpitations). If you experience this contact your doctor or go to the hospital straight away.
• Tremor, twisting or repetitive movements or abnormal postures due to sustained muscle contractions (dystonia), dizziness, headache
• Difficulties focusing on objects near to the eye (accommodation disorder), vision abnormalities
• Difficulty breathing or painful breathing (dyspnoea)
• Increased saliva secretion (salivary hypersecretion), constipation, vomiting, digestive problems or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen (dyspepsia), diarrhoea
• Urination disorder (micturition disorder), lack of ability to urinate (urinary retention)
• Increased sweating (hyperhidrosis), itching (pruritus)
• Muscle pain (myalgia)
• Increased appetite, increased weight
• Fatigue, weakness (asthenia)
• Sleeplessness (insomnia), depression, nervousness, agitation, decreased sexual drive (libido decreased)

Can I drink alcohol while taking it?

•  Fluanxol may increase the sedative affects of alcohol making you drowsier. It is recommended not to drink alcohol during treatment with Fluanxol.
• Always ask your doctor/pharmacist however as this may depend on what other tablets you are taking.

What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?

• If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, tell your doctor. Fluanxol should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.
• If you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor for advice. You should not use Fluanxol when breast-feeding, as small amounts of the medicine can pass into the breast milk.

If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.

References:

http://patient.info/medicine/flupentixol-tablets-depixol-fluanxol

http://www.medbroadcast.com/Drug/GetDrug/Fluanxol-Tablets

http://xpil.medicines.org.uk/ViewPil.aspx?DocID=5400

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/depression/a6746/fluanxol-flupentixol/

http://www.hpra.ie/img/uploaded/swedocuments/2136316.PA0115_002_001.ac454195-8f62-4c61-8e3d-fd2e094d14f4.000001Product%20Leaflet%20Approved.131111.pdf