General Information on Fluanxol
Fluanxol is an antidepressant used for treating depression in patients who may or may not also suffer from symptoms of anxiety.
The active ingredient in the drug is Flupentixol and it is given to the patient in the form of oral tablets.
Fluanxol acts on a patient’s nerve pathways to the brain. In this way, any chemical imbalance is rectified and depression is treated.
Side effects of Fluanxol
Do not buy Fluanxol if you have an allergy to it, if you have a blood circulation problem, or if you have a history of excitement, overactivity, or mania. Your doctor will need to make special dosage adjustments if you are suffering from epilepsy, a heart condition, Parkinson’s disease, phaeochromocytoma, an enlarged prostate, myasthenia gravis, glaucoma, a blood clotting disorder, or diabetes.
Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should also not take Fluanxol, as it may cause serious harm to the unborn child or nursing infant.
Your doctor will not recommend you to buy Fluanxol if you are already using other anti-psychotic medicines, antidepressants, anticoagulants, barbiturates, or anticholinergic medicines. Also inform your doctor if you are using drugs for treating nausea, stomach conditions, worm infections, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, or drugs used for lowering blood pressure or reducing appetite. Serious drug interactions may take place if you use any of these drugs along with Fluanxol.
Some common side effects associated with Fluanxol include unusual movements of the eyeballs, tongue, or mouth, reduced blood platelet count, drowsiness, muscle pain, blurred vision, speech problems, headache, tremors, dry mouth, flatulence, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, missed menstrual periods, unexpected secretion of milk, breast enlargement, reduced interest in sex, problems with ejaculation or erection, nervousness, insomnia, hot flushes, increased sweating, or greasy skin. These are mild side effects of the drug and subside as your body adjusts to Fluanxol.
In some cases, Fluanxol may lead to a liver disease. Symptoms of such a condition include yellowing of the skin or eyes and dark urine. Inform your doctor if you notice any of these side effects. Fluanxol may also cause tardive dyskinesia in some cases, the symptoms of which include abnormal movements of the mouth and tongue. Also watch out for signs of an extra-pyramidal reaction like circular eye movements, stiffness, restlessness, tremors, and other unusual muscle movements.
Some patients may also be hypersensitive to the drug. Symptoms of such a condition include hives, severe dizziness, swelling or itching of the face, throat, tongue or lips, or difficulty breathing. Discontinue using Fluanxol and inform your doctor as soon as possible if you develop any of these symptoms.
Dosage of Fluanxol
Initially, you will likely be advised to take Fluanxol 1mg per day, usually in the morning. After 7 days, you can increase the dosage to Fluanxol 2mg a day if your doctor recommends it. The maximum dosage a patient can receive is Fluanxol 3mg per day.
You can take Fluanxol with or without meals, but make sure that you take the tablet whole, without crushing, chewing or dissolving it. It may take around 2-3 days for the first signs of improvement to become apparent.
