Have you or someone close to you been prescribed the drug Fluphenazine by a doctor for
a mental health condition? It's normal to feel a little scared and curious when you hear about such a drug. So today, let's talk about this drug Fluphenazine, what it does, and what you need to be careful about when using it.
What is Fluphenazine?
Simply put, this is a medication that is used to treat mental illnesses like
schizophrenia . There is a chemical called
dopamine in our brain that helps control emotions, behavior, and thoughts. In some mental illnesses, this dopamine level becomes unbalanced. So this medication works by balancing that dopamine level and controlling the symptoms. This medication belongs to a class of medications called
antipsychotics . Medications in this class are used to treat a variety of mental health problems.
Things you should tell your doctor before taking medication
Before prescribing this medication, it is important for your doctor to know your complete health history. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed below.
| Health condition or habit | Description |
|---|
| Digestive tract problems | Intestinal obstruction, difficulty swallowing food. |
| Brain and nervous system | Brain tumors, dementia, head injuries, seizures, Parkinson's disease, muscle control problems. |
| Heart disease | Any heart disease, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure. |
| Other medical conditions | Diabetes, glaucoma, liver disease, respiratory diseases such as lung or asthma, prostate disease, difficulty urinating. |
| Blood composition | Decreased number of white cells, red cells, or platelets in the blood. |
| Habits and allergies | If you drink alcohol frequently, have an allergic reaction to fluphenazine or other medications, foods, or dyes. |
| Pregnancy | If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. |
How should I use the medicine?
Because this medicine comes as a solution, it is very important to measure it accurately.
- Measure accurately: Use only the special dropper or measuring spoon that comes with the medicine. Do not measure with household teaspoons or tablespoons , as they may not give you the correct dose.
- Shake before use: Shake the bottle well before use.
- Concentrated Solution: You may receive a concentrated solution. If so, it is not recommended to drink it directly. Measure the dose and dilute it in 2 ounces (about 60 ml) of milk, tomato juice, other fruit juice , water, or soup before drinking.
- Do not mix with these things: Do not mix this medicine with apple juice or drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, tea, or cola.
- Take it on time: Take the prescribed dose, as prescribed by your doctor. Never take more than the prescribed amount.
- Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly: Avoid stopping this medicine suddenly without medical advice. Doing so can cause serious side effects. If you do stop, your doctor will tell you how to do it.
Important: What to do if you overdose? If you think you have taken too much medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital. Do not delay this.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once
, adding to the missed dose.
Other medications that may interact with this medicine
Fluphenazine is a drug that can interact with other medications. Therefore, you should tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and even herbal remedies.
Drug Interactions with Fluphenazine: Do not use with the following drugs. Interactions may also occur with the following drugs (inform the doctor).
| Cisapride, Dronedarone, Metoclopramide, Pimozide, Saquinavir, Thioridazine |
| Alcohol | Medicines for allergies, coughs, and colds (Antihistamines) |
| Medications for depression or sleep | Blood pressure medication |
| Narcotic medications | Lithium |
| Drugs such as Levodopa for Parkinson's disease | General anesthetics |
| Anticonvulsant medications (e.g. Phenobarbital, Phenytoin) | Muscle relaxants used during surgery |
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
- Drowsiness and dizziness : This medicine may make you feel drowsy, dizzy, or have blurred vision . Therefore, do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
- Don't get up too quickly: You may feel dizzy when you suddenly stand up from a sitting position or when you get up from a lying position. Be careful of this, especially if you are elderly.
- Body temperature: This medicine may affect the way your body controls its temperature. Your tolerance to cold weather may decrease, so dress warmly if you are going out in the cold. Also, your tolerance to heat may decrease. So avoid excessive exercise and sun exposure. Drink plenty of water.
- Sun sensitivity: This medication may make your skin more sensitive to the sun. So if you are going to be in the sun, wear clothing that covers your skin and use sunscreen.
- Dry mouth : Dry mouth is common. You can control this by chewing sugar-free gum and drinking plenty of water.
- Diabetes: If you have diabetes, this medicine may increase your blood sugar levels. So talk to your doctor and make changes to your diet or medication if necessary.
- Skin damage: This liquid may cause skin irritation if it comes into contact with the skin. Therefore, use with caution.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medication, this one can have side effects. Some are serious, some are common.
Side Effects: If these symptoms occur, tell your doctor immediately. If these persist or become bothersome, tell
your doctor. | Allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome | High fever, muscle stiffness, excessive sweating, rapid/irregular heartbeat, confusion. |
| Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) | Uncontrolled movements of body parts, muscle tension or twitching, tremors, loss of balance, restlessness. |
| Liver damage | Upper right abdominal pain, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine. |
| Other serious symptoms | Changes in vision, signs of infection such as fever, cough, sore throat, and low blood pressure (dizziness, fainting). |
| Constipation | Drowsiness |
| Dry mouth | Headache, nausea |
Take-Home Message
- This medicine is for you only. Take only the prescribed dose as prescribed by your doctor. Do not share it with others.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without medical advice.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you take and any illnesses you have.
- Avoid risky activities such as driving, as drowsiness and dizziness may occur while taking the medication.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any serious side effects (e.g., high fever, muscle stiffness, uncontrolled movements).
- Keep the medicine bottle out of the reach of children, at room temperature, away from light and moisture.
Fluphenazine, Mental Health, Schizophrenia, Antipsychotic, Medication, Side Effects
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