Has your doctor prescribed you a medicine called Fluphenazine? Or is a family member or friend using this medicine? Hearing this name may make you a little scared or curious. But don't worry. It is very important to be well informed about any medicine before using it. So today, let's talk simply and politely about this medicine called Fluphenazine, its effects on the brain, and the things to be careful about while using it.
Simply put, what is Fluphenazine?
Fluphenazine is a medication used to treat mental health conditions such as schizophrenia . It belongs to a class of drugs called 'antipsychotics'.
Our brains contain a chemical called dopamine. This controls many things, including our mood, behavior, and thoughts. In some mental health conditions, this dopamine level becomes unbalanced. So, what this fluphenazine drug does is rebalance that dopamine level and help control the symptoms. Doctors may also prescribe this drug for other mental health conditions in addition to schizophrenia .
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before starting fluphenazine, it is essential to give your doctor a complete picture of your health. Be sure to tell them if you have any of the following conditions:
| Condition/Sickness | Description |
|---|---|
| Existing medical conditions | Diabetes, Parkinson's disease, seizures, glaucoma, brain tumors, heart disease, liver disease, prostate disease, and lung diseases such as asthma. |
| Body discomfort | Difficulty swallowing food, difficulty urinating, intestinal obstruction, difficulty controlling muscles. |
| Blood-related problems | Low blood pressure, a history of irregular heartbeat, low blood cell counts (white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets). |
| Other important points | If you have dementia, a head injury, or a history of heavy drinking. |
| Allergies | If you have an allergic reaction to fluphenazine or any other medicine, food, or dye. |
| Special occasions | If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. |
How should I use this medicine?
This is usually taken by mouth as a pill. Take the medicine with a glass of water. Make sure to take the dose prescribed by your doctor, at the right time . Keep the time gap between doses. Even if you feel better, do not stop taking the medicine suddenly without your doctor's advice. Doing so can cause serious reactions.
Attention: Overdose
If you think you have taken more than the prescribed dose of this medicine, do not ignore it at any time . Go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or, call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital.
What to do if you miss a dose of medication?
If you miss 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 to make up for a missed dose.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
When taking fluphenazine, you should tell your doctor about any other medications, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. Some medications may interact with it.
| Medicines that should never be taken with Fluphenazine | |
|---|---|
| Cisapride | Dronedarone |
| Metoclopramide | Pimozide |
| Saquinavir | Thioridazine |
| Things that may react with Fluphenazine, so be careful | |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | Medicines for allergies, coughs, and colds (Antihistamines) |
| Some medications for depression, anxiety, or sleep | Blood pressure medication |
| Medications such as Levodopa for Parkinson's disease | Anesthesia for surgery |
| Narcotics, such as morphine, for severe pain | Lithium |
This list is not complete. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medications you take, and if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use other drugs .
Things to be careful about when taking medication
Drowsiness and dizziness
This medicine may make you feel sleepy, dizzy, or have blurred vision. Therefore, avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. You may feel dizzy or fall when you stand up suddenly, especially if you are elderly. Therefore, change positions slowly. Drinking alcohol can make this drowsiness worse.
Problems regulating body temperature
This medicine can reduce your body's ability to respond to cold and heat. This means that you may feel cold more quickly in very cold weather and overheat more quickly in very hot weather.
- Stay indoors as much as possible in cold weather . If you do go out, dress warmly.
- During hot weather , limit sun exposure and excessive exercise. Wear breathable clothing and drink plenty of water.
Sun sensitivity
This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Therefore, if you are going to be in the sun, wear clothing that covers your skin and use sunscreen.
Possible side effects
Like any medication, Fluphenazine can cause side effects. Some are serious, while others are common. It is important to be aware of these.
| Serious side effects that you should report to your doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome | High fever, muscle stiffness, excessive sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, confusion. |
| Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) | Uncontrollable movements of body parts (especially the face, tongue), muscle stiffness or tremors, restlessness, difficulty walking. |
| Liver damage | Pain in the upper right abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine. |
| Other features | Vision changes, signs of infection (fever, chills, cough), dizziness due to low blood pressure, hormonal changes (breast discharge, changes in sexual desire). |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Dry mouth | Constipation |
| Drowsiness | Headache, nausea |
If you notice anything unusual that is not on this list, talk to your doctor about it too.
Take-Home Message
- Fluphenazine is an important medication that should be used only under medical advice and helps manage mental health conditions.
- Never start, change the dosage, or stop taking medication without your doctor's advice.
- Give your doctor a complete description of all other medications you are taking and all of your medical conditions.
- Be aware of side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness. Avoid driving until you know how the medication affects you.
- If you experience any serious side effects such as high fever, muscle stiffness, or uncontrollable movements, seek medical advice immediately.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not share it with others.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 Sotalol (Sotalol / Betapace) tablets are a very powerful medicine used for which disease?
This is not like other common blood pressure pills (Beta-blockers - e.g. Propranolol)! This is a powerful (Class II and III Antiarrhythmic) specific drug that doctors use to normalize the heart rhythm when the upper or lower chambers of the heart suddenly beat abnormally/rapidly (Atrial Fibrillation / Ventricular Arrhythmias), a fatal condition!
💬 When the heart is beating like crazy, how can this pill (Sotalol) normalize the heart rhythm?
This does two things in one pill! First (as a Beta-blocker), it blocks 100% of the 'adrenaline' message from the brain that makes the heart beat faster, slowing down the heart. Then (as a Potassium channel blocker), it prolongs the time it takes for the heart's electrical cells to charge and reset/rest (QT interval)! Then the heart can't beat fast enough, and the beat will definitely return to normal (slow).
💬 Why does it say 'You must stay in the hospital for 3 days (Black Box Warning)' when you start taking this medicine (Sotalol)?
That is the biggest danger and fatality! This is just like creating a heart rhythm, and as soon as you take a couple of pills, a 'new deadly heart rhythm (Torsades de pointes / Proarrhythmia)' can occur and the patient's heart can stop completely and die! Therefore, for the first 3 days, doctors definitely keep the patient on an ECG and check the kidneys before adjusting the dosage.
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