Fluphenazine

In the long-term management of psychotic disorders including:

• Schizophrenia
• Mania and
• Organic brain syndrome.

Phenothiazine drugs

Fluphenazine 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.

Fluphenazine 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.

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.

Fluphenazine 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.

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.

Fluphenazine 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.

The safety for the use of Fluphenazine 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.

Store at 15-30°C.