Introduction
Sentix 1 is a prescription medicine used in the treatment of schizophrenia. It may also be used to treat depression and bipolar disorder. It alters the thoughts and elevates the mood, improving the person’s ability to think, feel and behave.
Sentix 1 may be taken with or without food, preferably at the same time each day. Take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor and if you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. It is important that this medication is not stopped suddenly without talking to your doctor as it may worsen your symptoms.
Some common side effects of this medicine include dry mouth, abnormality of voluntary movements, urinary retention, constipation, and muscle rigidity. Initially, this medicine may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when you change positions, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. It may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
Inform your doctor if you experience any abnormal movements, particularly of the face, lips, jaw, and tongue while taking this medicine. Your doctor may advise for regular monitoring of blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Additionally, avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine as it can make drowsiness worse. This medicine can also lead to weight gain, eat a healthy balanced diet, avoid snacking with high-calorie food, and exercise regularly.
Side effects of Sentix 1
Common
- Sleepiness
- Orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering of blood pressure on standing)
- Dryness in mouth
- Abnormality of voluntary movements
- Weight gain
- Increased prolactin level in blood
- Urinary retention
- Constipation
- Muscle stiffness
- Tremor
How to use Sentix 1
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Sentix 1 may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Sentix 1 works
Sentix 1 is a typical antipsychotic. It works by blocking the action of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain that affects thoughts and mood.
Indication
Depression, Schizophrenia, Psychoses
Administration
May be taken with or without food.
Adult Dose
Oral
Psychoses
Adult: Initially, 3-9 mg bid, adjusted according to response. Max: 18 mg daily.
Elderly: Initial dose: ¼ or ½ of the usual initial dose.
Oral
Depression with or without anxiety
Adult: Initially, 1 mg daily increased after 1 wk to 2 mg daily and then to a max of 3 mg daily, last dose should be given not later than 4 p.m.
Doses >2 mg should be given in 2 divided doses. Discontinue treatment if there is no improvement within 1 wk of using the max dose.
Elderly: Initially, 0.5 mg daily increased after 1 wk to 1 mg daily with the last dose given not later than 4 p.m. Max: 2 mg daily in 2 divided doses.
Intramuscular
Psychoses
Adult: As decanoate: Initially, 20 mg is given as test dose.
After at least 7 days and depending on the response, subsequent doses of 20-40 mg may be given at intervals of 2-4 wk.
Usual maintenance dose: 50 mg every 4 wk to 300 mg every 2 wk. Up to 400 mg wkly may be used in severe or resistant cases.
Elderly: Initial dose: ¼ or ½ of the usual initial dose.
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity. Extremely excitable and overactive patients; mania; porphyria; coma; preexisting CNS depression; bone-marrow supression; phaeochromocytoma. Lactation.
Mode of Action
Flupentixol is a thioxanthene antipsychotic that inhibits dopamine-mediated effects by blocking postsynaptic dopamine receptors in the CNS.
Precaution
Patients with convulsive disorders; advanced hepatic, renal, CV or resp disease; tasks requiring mental alertness; elderly (especially with dementia), and debilitated patients; neuroleptics with sedative effect must be withdrawn gradually; history of angle-closure glaucoma; urinary retention; prostatic hyperplasia; breast cancer, prolactin dependent tumours; parkinsonism; myasthenia gravis; pregnancy; Avoid direct sunlight.
Side Effect
Rigidity, tremors, restlessness, tardive dyskinesia, insomnia, dryness of mouth, wt gain, sexual dysfunction, galactorrhoea and menstrual disturbances.
Potentially Fatal: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (hyperthermia, hypertonicity of skeletal muscles, unconsciousness and autonomic nervous system instability).
Pregnancy Category Note
Pregnancy category: C
Lactation: Drug enters breast milk; not recommended
Interaction
May potentiate the adverse effects of drugs with antimuscarinic effects e.g. TCAs. Reduced efficacy of levodopa. Increases adverse extrapyramidal symptoms with dopamine antagonists (metoclopramide and prochlorperazine).
Potentially Fatal: Potentiates CNS effects of alcohol, general anaesthetics, hypnotics, anxiolytics and opioids. Blocks antihypertensive effect of guanethidine.