Depixol tablets (flupentixol)

How does it work?

Depixol tablets contain the active ingredient flupentixol (previously spelt flupenthixol in the UK), which is a type of medicine called an antipsychotic.

Flupentixol is sometimes described as a neuroleptic or a 'major tranquilliser', though this last term is fairly misleading, as this type of medicine is not just a tranquilliser, and any tranquillising effect is not as important as its main mechanism of action in psychotic illness.

Flupentixol works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. Dopamine is a natural compound called a neurotransmitter, and is involved in transmitting messages between brain cells. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter known to be involved in regulating mood and behaviour, amongst other things.

Psychotic illness, and particularly schizophrenia, is thought to be caused by overactivity of dopamine in the brain. Flupentixol blocks the receptors that dopamine acts on, and this prevents the overactivity of dopamine in the brain. This helps to control psychotic illness.

Flupentixol is used used in the long-term management of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Flupentixol is also sometimes used in low doses to treat depression. See the Fluanxol factsheet linked at the end of this article for more information about this use of flupentixol.

What is it used for?

Schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses.

Warning!

This medicine may cause drowsiness and blurred vision. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.

It is recommended that you avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine because it may enhance drowsiness.

This medicine can occasionally cause your blood pressure to drop when you move from a lying down or sitting position to sitting or standing, especially when you first start taking the medicine. This may make you feel dizzy or unsteady. To avoid this try getting up slowly. If you do feel dizzy, sit or lie down until the symptoms pass.

You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to, even if you feel better and think you don't need it any more. This is because the medicine controls the symptoms of the illness but doesn't actually cure it. This means that if you suddenly stop treatment your symptoms could come back. Stopping the medicine suddenly may also rarely cause withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, insomnia or involuntary movements such as twitching or tremor. When treatment with this medicine is stopped, it should be done gradually, following the instructions given by your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you get a high temperature (fever), mouth ulcers or other unexplained signs of infection while taking this medicine. Your doctor may want you to have a blood test to check the numbers of blood cells in your blood.

You should tell your doctor if you experience any abnormal movements, particularly of the face, lips, jaw and tongue, while taking this medicine. These symptoms may be indicative of a rare side effect known as tardive dyskinesia, and your doctor may ask you to stop taking this medicine, or decrease your dose.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms while taking this medicine: high fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, faster breathing and drowsiness or sleepiness. These symptoms may be due to a rare side effect known as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and if so your treatment should be stopped.

Use with caution in

Elderly people

Liver disease

Heart disease

Irregular heart beats (arrhythmias)

Severe lung disease

Kidney failure

Diabetes

Epilepsy

People at risk of seizures (fits), eg due to alcohol/drug withdrawal, brain damage, other medicines

Parkinson's disease

Closed angle glaucoma

Enlarged prostate gland

Overactive thyroid gland

Underactive thyroid gland

Tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma)

Abnormal muscle weakness

Hereditary blood disorders called porphyrias

Hypersensitivity to other antipsychotic medicines.

Not to be used in

Children

Excitable or agitated states

Unresponsive unconscious states (comatose states), including those caused by alcohol, opiate or barbiturate poisoning.

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 for use during pregnancy has not been established. It should be avoided during pregnancy, particularly in the first and third trimesters, unless the expected benefit outweighs any possible risks to the developing baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine passes into breast milk and could have harmful effects on a nursing infant. The manufacturer recommends that mothers who need to take this medicine should stop breastfeeding and bottlefeed instead. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

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

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