Manufacturer: Lundbeck
Active ingredient: Flupentixol (low dose)

How does it work?

Flupentixol is an anti-psychotic medicine that, in high doses, is used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses. The lower dose in this preparation is used to treat depression.

It is not fully understood how low doses of flupentixol work in treating depression, but its mechanism of action is not the same as that of other antidepressants. Unlike other antidepressants, an effect is usually seen within 2-3 days.

What is it used for?

• Depression.

Warning!

• This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Alcohol should be avoided.
• Avoid stopping this medicine suddenly.
• This medicine is not recommended for use in children.
• This medicine should be withdrawn if extrapyramidal symptoms (abnormal movements of the hands, legs, face, neck and tongue) occur.

Use with caution in

• Elderly people.

Not to be used in

• Excitable and overactive states.
• Mania.
• Severe depression requiring electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or hospitalisation.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been established. It should therefore be avoided in pregnancy, particularly in the 1st and 3rd trimesters. Discuss with your doctor.
• This medicine is present in breast milk. Breastfeeding is not recommended when taking this medicine. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

• This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia).
• Drowsiness.
• Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor).
• Restlessness.
• Visual disturbances.
• Dizziness.
• Abnormal movement of the hands, legs, face, neck and tongue (extrapyramidal effects).
• High blood prolactin (milk producing hormone) level (hyperprolactinaemia). Sometimes this can lead to symptoms such as breast enlargement and production of milk.
• Headache/migraine.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

When flupentixol is taken with alcohol, medicines for anxiety (anxiolytics), sleeping tablets and strong painkillers, the sedative effects of these medicines may be enhanced.

When taken with tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, antispasmodics such as atropine, or antiparkinsonian medicines, certain side effects of these medicines (such as dry mouth, blurred vision or constipation) may be increased.