Flufenazina

Uses

In the long-term management of psychotic disorders including:

• Schizophrenia
• Mania and
• Organic brain syndrome.

Flufenazina is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Chorea, Depression, Gilles de la Tourette's Syndrome, Psychosis, Sedation

How Flufenazina works

Flufenazina blocks postsynaptic mesolimbic dopaminergic D1 and D2 receptors in the brain; depresses the release of hypothalamic and hypophyseal hormones and is believed to depress the reticular activating system thus affecting basal metabolism, body temperature, wakefulness, vasomotor tone, and emesis.

Dosage

Flufenazina dosage

Flufenazina Decanoate by deep intramuscular injection into the gluteal muscle, test dose 12.5 mg (6.25 mg in elderly), then after 4-7 days 12.5-100 mg repeated at intervals of 14-35 days, adjusted according to response; it is not recommended for children.

Side Effects

The side effects include tardive dyskinesia, sedation, mental confusion; hypotension; hyperprolactinaemia leading to galactorrhoea and amenorrhoea in women; loss of libido, impotence and sterility in males. Also include allergic reactions, cholestatic jaundice, corneal and lens deposists, skin pigmentation. Other potential adverse reactions are agranulocytosis; neuroleptic syndrome.

Precaution

Special precaution should be practiced in presence of convulsive disorders; hepatic, renal, cerebrovascular, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Also precaution should be observed in case of phenochromocytoma; bone marrow suppression; elderly or debilitated patients.

Interaction

Flufenazina reverses antihypertensive effects of Guanethidine, Methyldopa and Clonidine. It also causes lithium toxicity by interacting with it. Antacids may reduce bioavailability of phenothiazines. Additive CNS depressant effects produced with alcohol, barbiturates, hypnotics, sedatives, opiates and antihistamines.

Food Interaction

• Avoid alcohol.
• Take with food. Food reduces irritation.

Flufenazina Alcohol interaction

[Moderate] GENERALLY AVOID:

Concurrent use of ethanol and phenothiazines may result in additive CNS depression and psychomotor impairment.

Also, ethanol may precipitate dystonic reactions in patients who are taking phenothiazines.

The two drugs probably act on different sites in the brain, although the exact mechanism of the interaction is not known.

Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol during phenothiazine therapy.

Flufenazina Drug Interaction

Major: escitalopram, escitalopramModerate: aripiprazole, aripiprazole, lorazepam, lorazepam, benztropine, benztropine, lamotrigine, lamotrigine, lurasidone, lurasidone, quetiapine, quetiapine, sertraline, sertraline, olanzapine, olanzapineUnknown: cholecalciferol, cholecalciferol

Flufenazina Disease Interaction

Major: dementia, acute alcohol intoxication, cardiovascular disease, CNS depression, head injuryModerate: anticholinergic effects, breast cancer, dystonic reactions, hematologic toxicity, liver disease, NMS, parkinsonism, renal dysfunction, respiratory disorders, seizure disorders, tardive dyskinesia

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

The safety for the use of Flufenazina decanoate during pregnancy has not yet been established; therefore the possible hazards should be weighed against the potential benefits when administering this drug to pregnant patients.

Contraindication

Flufenazina Decanoate oily Injection is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to the drug. Also contraindicated in comatose or severely depressed states, blood dyscrasias, liver disease, pregnancy (3rd trimester), lactation.

Storage Condition

Store at 15-30°C.

Innovators Monograph

You find simplified version here Flufenazina