Trifluoperazine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What is the drug Trifluoperazine?

What is Trifluoperazine for?

Trifluoperazine is a drug commonly used to treat mental / mood disorders (such as schizophrenia, psychotic disorders). Trifluoperazine helps you think more clearly, be less nervous, and engage in everyday activities. This medication can reduce aggressive behavior and the desire to harm yourself / others. This medication also helps reduce hallucinations (hearing / seeing things that are not there). Trifluoperazine is a psychiatric drug that belongs to the phenothiazine antipsychotic class. This drug works by helping to balance the body's natural substances in the brain.

This medication can also be used for short-term therapy for anxiety. Even so, there are safer drugs to treat anxiety that can be given before trifluoperazine.

How is Trifluoperazine used?

Take this medication with or without food, usually once or twice daily as directed by your doctor.

Dosage is based on your health condition, age, and response to therapy. In children, dosage is based on body weight. To reduce the risk of side effects, your doctor will recommend that you start this drug from a low dose and increase the dose gradually. Follow the doctor's rules carefully.

Use this remedy regularly for maximum benefits. To help you, use it every day at the same time.

Even if you feel the benefits of this medicine immediately after using it, it can take 2-3 weeks for maximum benefit.

Do not stop taking your medication suddenly without your doctor knowing. Some conditions can worsen when the medicine is stopped suddenly. Also, you may experience symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and shaking. To prevent these symptoms while you have to stop this therapy, your doctor will reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more detailed information. Notify immediately if new or worsening symptoms appear.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How is Trifluoperazine stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Trifluoperazine dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Trifluoperazine for adults?

Adult Dose for Schizophrenia:

Oral:

Initial dose: 2-5 mg twice daily (small or thin patients should be started from low doses).

Maintenance dose: 15-20 mg / day, sometimes up to 40 mg / day or more in some cases. The optimal therapeutic dose level should be reached within 2 or 3 weeks.

IM:

For patients requiring immediate control of severe symptoms:

1-2 mg (1/2 to 1 mL) by IM injection every 4-6 hours as needed. Doses exceeding 6 mg / 24 hours are rarely needed, and only in exceptional cases doses of more than 10 mg / 24 hours.

The injection should not be given at intervals of less than 4 hours due to the accumulated effect of the drug.

Adult Dose for Anxiety:

For nonpsychotic anxiety therapy:

1-2 mg orally twice a day, no more than 6 mg / day or more than 12 weeks.

What is the dosage of Trifluoperazine for children?

6-12 years (patient hospitalized or under close supervision):

Oral:

Initial dose: 1 mg once or twice a day.

The dose may be increased gradually until the symptoms are controlled or until the side effects start to bother you. Doses greater than 15 mg / day are usually not needed, some older children with more severe symptoms may need larger doses.

IM:

There is little experience with the use of trifluoperazine injection in children. However, if needed for immediate control of severe symptoms, 1 mg (1/2 mL) of the drug can be given IM once or twice a day.

The dosage should be adjusted according to the child's weight and the severity of the symptoms.

In what dosage is Trifluoperazine available?

Trifluoperazine is available in the following dosages.

1 mg tablet; 2 mg; 5 mg; 10 mg

Trifluoperazine side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Trifluoperazine?

Seek immediate medical help if you experience any of the following signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using trifluoperazine and call your doctor if you experience serious side effects such as:

• Twitching or involuntary movements of the eyes, lips, tongue, face, hands, or feet
• tremors (uncontrollable shaking), drooling, difficulty swallowing, disturbances in balance or walking
• feeling restless, nervous, or agitated
• very stiff muscles (rigid), high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or pounding heartbeat, feeling faint
• decreased night vision, tunnel vision, watery eyes, sensitivity to light
• seizures (black-out or convulsion)
• nausea and stomach pain, skin rash, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• urinating less or not urinating
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, fever, sore throat, flu symptoms
• joint pain or swelling with fever, enlarged glands, chest pain, muscle aches, vomiting, unusual thoughts or behavior and mottled skin color
• slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing (can stop breathing)

The less severe side effects include:

• dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, sleep disorders (insomnia)
• blurred vision, headaches
• dry mouth, stuffy nose
• constipation
• breast enlargement or discharge
• irregular menstrual periods
• weight gain, swollen hands and feet
• impotence, difficulty achieving orgasm

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Trifluoperazine Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Trifluoperazine?

You should not use trifluoperazine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• spinal cord suppression
• liver disease
• blood cell disorders such as anemia, low white blood cell count, or low platelet count
• drowsiness, slow breathing, weak pulse, or decreased alertness (such as after drinking alcohol or taking drugs that make you sleepy)

Trifluoperazine is not approved for use in psychotic conditions associated with dementia.

Trifluoperazine can increase the risk of death in the elderly with dementia.

Long-term use of trifluoperazine can cause serious movement disorders that cannot be reversed. Symptoms of this disease include uncontrolled movement of the muscles of the lips, tongue, eyes, face, or legs. The longer you use trifluoperazine, the higher your risk of developing movement disorders. The risk of side effects is greater in women and the elderly.

Is Trifluoperazine safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

Trifluoperazine Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Trifluoperazine?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

Although certain drugs cannot be used together, in other cases 2 different drugs can be used simultaneously although drug interactions may occur. In this case, the doctor can change the dose, or other warnings may be needed. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription drugs.

Can food or alcohol interact with Trifluoperazine?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Trifluoperazine?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, in particular:

• brain tumor
• heart disease, high blood pressure
• Kidney illness
• blocked digestive tract (stomach or intestines)
• breast cancer
• glaucoma
• seizures or epilepsy
• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland)
• enlarged prostate or urinary problems
• if you are also taking lithium or a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven)

Trifluoperazine overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.