What is fluphenazine?
Fluphenazine is an anti-psychotic medication in a group of drugs called phenothiazines (FEEN-oh-THYE-a-zeens). It works by changing the actions of chemicals in your brain.
Fluphenazine is used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
Fluphenazine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about fluphenazine?
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs.
Fluphenazine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Fluphenazine may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
You should not use fluphenazine if you have liver disease, brain damage, bone marrow depression, a blood cell disorder, or if you are also using large amounts of alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy. Do not use if you are allergic to fluphenazine or other phenothiazines.
Before you take fluphenazine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease or high blood pressure, a history of seizures, Parkinson's disease, liver or kidney disease, severe asthma or breathing problem, past or present breast cancer, adrenal gland tumor, enlarged prostate, urination problems, glaucoma, low levels of calcium in your blood, or if you have ever had a serious side effect while using fluphenazine or similar medicines.
Before taking fluphenazine, tell your doctor about all other medications you use.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking fluphenazine?
Fluphenazine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Fluphenazine may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
You should not use fluphenazine if you have liver disease, brain damage, bone marrow depression, or a blood cell disorder (such as low platelets or low red or white blood cell counts), or if you are also using large amounts of alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy. Do not use if you are allergic to fluphenazine or other phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro), promethazine (Adgan, Pentazine, Phenergan), thioridazine (Mellaril), or trifluoperazine (Stelazine).
To make sure you can safely take fluphenazine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
heart disease or high blood pressure;
a history of seizures or brain injury;
Parkinson's disease;
liver or kidney disease;
severe asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problem;
past or present breast cancer;
adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma);
enlarged prostate or urination problems;
low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia);
glaucoma; or
if you have ever had a serious side effect while using fluphenazine or any other phenothiazine.
Tell your doctor if you will be exposed to extreme heat or cold, or to insecticide poisons while you are taking fluphenazine.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
Taking antipsychotic medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn, such as withdrawal symptoms, breathing problems, feeding problems, fussiness, tremors, and limp or stiff muscles. However, you may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems if you stop taking your medicine during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking fluphenazine, do not stop taking it without your doctor's advice.
It is not known whether fluphenazine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.