Flupenthixol Depot Injection

What is Flupenthixol Depot Injection for?

Flupenthixol depot injection belongs to a class of medications known as typical (first-generation) antipsychotics. It is used to treat and prevent the return of symptoms in Schizophrenia and other mental health related conditions such as:

• Hearing, seeing or sensing things that are not real
• Having mistaken beliefs
• Uncontrolled anger
• Being overly suspicious

A depot injection is a special preparation of medication which is given in the form of an injection into the upper arm, thigh or buttocks. The medication is then slowly released and absorbed to the rest of the body over a number of weeks.

Flupenthixol depot injection may also be used for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.

How should I take or use Flupenthixol Depot Injection?

• A small dose of the medication, called a test dose, will usually be given when you are started on this medication to help avoid any prolonged and severe side effects.
• If you have no side effects from the test dose, you may be given an additional dose, called a top-up dose, a few days or up to a week after the test dose.
• Subsequent injections will be given at regular intervals. The interval between each injection will be decided by your doctor (e.g. every 2 to 4 weeks).
• It is important for you to be regular with your scheduled depot injections at the clinic. Missing your injections for too long a time (e.g. several weeks or months) may result in a recurrence of your previous symptoms.

What should I do if I forget to take or use Flupenthixol Depot Injection?

If you have missed an injection, please call up your doctor to arrange for an appointment visit.

What precautions should I take when taking or using Flupenthixol Depot Injection?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, your doctor would have discussed the potential benefits and side effects with you and should you have further questions or concerns, do consult your doctor.
• You are taking any other medications (including those that can be bought without a prescription), supplements, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal products. Some of them may affect how this medication works or cause serious drug interactions.
• You have or have ever had:
  • Other drug allergies
  • Medical conditions such as:
    • Kidney, or liver disease, irregular heartbeat or other heart problems, urinary problems, stroke, history of blood clots, low blood levels of potassium and magnesium
    • Parkinson’s disease, dementia, seizure (fits), low blood pressure, blood disorders, diabetes, glaucoma (high pressure in the eye)

Flupenthixol depot injection can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Wear protective clothing or use sunscreen if necessary.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use Flupenthixol Depot Injection?

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Flupenthixol depot injection as it can cause excessive sleepiness.

What are some common side effects of Flupenthixol Depot Injection?

The mentioned side effects generally affect up to 10% of patients.

• Constipation
  • Drink more water (if you do not have any fluid restriction), eat more high-fibre foods, and exercise regularly
  • Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you need a medication to help with your constipation
• Dizziness
  • Get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position
• Drowsiness or feeling tired
  • Avoid driving or taking part in activities that require concentration
  • Discuss with your doctor if you can take your medication at a different time of the day
• Increase in appetite, weight gain
  • Exercise regularly and eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Dry mouth
  • Chew sugar-free gum, suck on sugar-free hard candies or ice chips, sip water regularly
• Muscle movement side effects (extrapyramidal side effects) – do speak to your doctor for further management. Examples include:
  • Muscle stiffness and spasms (such as in the face, neck and back), difficulty in speaking or swallowing, twitching, or upward rolling of eyes (symptoms of dystonia)
  • Restlessness or need to keep moving constantly (akathisia)
  • Uncontrollable shaking of limbs (tremors)
• Pain at injection site

Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if any of them continues, worsens or affects your daily life.

What are some rare but serious side effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Rarely this medication may cause:

• Confusion, high fever, severe muscle stiffness, irregular blood pressure (signs and symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome)
• Uncontrollable movements (such as in the face, tongue, jaw or other parts of the body) (tardive dyskinesia)
• Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arms or legs, and speech or vision problems (signs and symptoms of stroke)
• Loss of appetite, severe nausea or vomiting, pain in the upper part of the stomach, yellowing of the skin or ‘whites’ of the eyes, dark-brown coloured urine and/or pale/clay-coloured stools (signs and symptoms of a liver problem)
• Seizures (fits)
• Problems with eyesight or blurred vision
• Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)
• Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting episodes (signs and symptoms of an abnormal heart beating rhythm (prolonged QTc interval))
• Fever, chills, sore throat and/or mouth ulcers that do not go away (symptoms of blood dyscrasias)
• Severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe pain or swelling in either of the legs (symptoms of venous thromboembolism)
• Increased prolactin hormone in the body (hyperprolactinemia):
  • Changes in menstrual cycle in females (Irregular or stopping of menstrual periods) and/or
  • Abnormal breast swelling, soreness or secretion (in both men and women)

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

How should I store Flupenthixol Depot Injection?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away Flupenthixol Depot Injection safely?

If used at home, you may throw this injection away along with the used needles, into a metal tin, or glass jar or thick plastic container (e.g. detergent bottles) before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin to prevent any needle stick injury.