Flupentixol
Flupentixol (INN), also known as flupenthixol (former BAN), marketed under brand names such as Depixol and Fluanxol is a typical antipsychotic drug of the thioxanthene class. It was introduced in 1965 by Lundbeck. In addition to single drug preparations, it is also available as flupentixol/melitracen—a combination product containing both melitracen (a tricyclic antidepressant) and flupentixol. Flupentixol is not approved for use in the United States. It is, however, approved for use in the UK,[4] Australia,[5] Canada, Russian Federation,[6] South Africa, New Zealand, Philippines and various other countries.
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Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Depixol, Fluanxol |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information |
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Routes of administration | Oral, IM (including a depot) |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 40–55% (oral)[1] |
Metabolism | Gut wall, hepatic[2] |
Elimination half-life | 35 hours[1] |
Excretion | Renal (negligible)[3] |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.053.397 100.018.459, 100.053.397 ![]() |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C23H25F3N2OS |
Molar mass | 434.52 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
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Medical uses
Flupentixol's main use is as a long-acting injection given once in every two or three weeks to individuals with schizophrenia who have poor compliance with medication and suffer frequent relapses of illness, though it is also commonly given as a tablet. There is little formal evidence to support its use for this indication but it has been in use for over fifty years.[4][7]
Flupentixol is also used in low doses as an antidepressant.[4][8][9][10][11][12][13] There is tentative evidence that it reduces the rate of deliberate self-harm, among those who self-harm repeatedly.[14]
Adverse effects
Adverse effect incidence[1][4][5][15][16]
- Common (>1% incidence) adverse effects include
- Extrapyramidal side effects such as: (which usually become apparent soon after therapy is begun or soon after an increase in dose is made)
- - Muscle rigidity
- - Hypokinesia
- - Hyperkinesia
- - Parkinsonism
- - Tremor
- - Akathisia
- - Dystonia
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Hypersalivation – excessive salivation
- Blurred vision
- Diaphoresis – excessive sweating
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Somnolence
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Overactivity
- Headache
- Nervousness
- Fatigue
- Myalgia
- Hyperprolactinemia and its complications such as: (acutely)
- - Sexual dysfunction
- - Amenorrhea – cessation of menstrual cycles
- - Gynecomastia – enlargement of breast tissue in males
- - Galactorrhea – the expulsion of breast milk that's not related to breastfeeding or pregnancy
- and if the hyperprolactinemia persists chronically, the following adverse effects may be seen:
- - Reduced bone mineral density leading to osteoporosis (brittle bones)
- - Infertility
- Dyspepsia – indigestion
- Abdominal pain
- Flatulence
- Nasal congestion
- Polyuria – passing more urine than usual
- Uncommon (0.1–1% incidence) adverse effects include
- Fainting
- Palpitations
- Rare (<0.1% incidence) adverse effects include
- Blood dyscrasias (abnormalities in the cell composition of blood), such as:
- - Agranulocytosis – a drop in white blood cell counts that leaves one open to potentially life-threatening infections
- - Neutropenia – a drop in the number of neutrophils (white blood cells that specifically fight bacteria) in one's blood
- - Leucopenia – a less severe drop in white blood cell counts than agranulocytosis
- - Thrombocytopenia – a drop in the number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting and hence this leads to an increased risk of bruising and other bleeds
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome – a potentially fatal condition that appear to result from central D2 receptor blockade. The symptoms include:
- - Hyperthermia
- - Muscle rigidity
- - Rhabdomyolysis
- - Autonomic instability (e.g. tachycardia, diarrhea, diaphoresis, etc.)
- - Mental status changes (e.g. coma, agitation, anxiety, confusion, etc.)
- Unknown incidence adverse effects include
- Jaundice
- Abnormal liver function test results
- Tardive dyskinesia – an often incurable movement disorder that usually results from years of continuous treatment with antipsychotic drugs, especially typical antipsychotics like flupenthixol. It presents with repetitive, involuntary, purposeless and slow movements; TD can be triggered by a fast dose reduction in any antipsychotic.
- Hypotension
- Confusional state
- Seizures
- Mania
- Hypomania
- Depression
- Hot flush
- Anergia
- Appetite changes
- Weight changes
- Hyperglycemia – high blood glucose (sugar) levels
- Abnormal glucose tolerance
- Pruritus – itchiness
- Rash
- Dermatitis
- Photosensitivity – sensitivity to light
- Oculogyric crisis
- Accommodation disorder
- Sleep disorder
- Impaired concentration
- Tachycardia
- QTc interval prolongation – an abnormality in the electrical activity of the heart that can lead to potentially fatal changes in heart rhythm
- Torsades de pointes
- Miosis – constriction of the pupil of the eye
- Paralytic ileus – paralysis of the bowel muscles leading to severe constipation, inability to pass wind, etc.
- Mydriasis
- Glaucoma
Interactions
It should not be used concomitantly with medications known to prolong the QTc interval (e.g. 5-HT3 antagonists, tricyclic antidepressants, citalopram, etc.) as this may lead to an increased risk of QTc interval prolongation.[16][1] Neither should it be given concurrently with lithium (medication) as it may increase the risk of lithium toxicity and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.[4][5][16] It should not be given concurrently with other antipsychotics due to the potential for this to increase the risk of side effects, especially neurological side effects such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome.[4][5][16] It should be avoided in patients on CNS depressants such as opioids, alcohol and barbiturates.[16]
Contraindications
It should not be given in the following disease states:[1][4][5][16]
- Pheochromocytoma
- Prolactin-dependent tumors such as pituitary prolactinomas and breast cancer
- Long QT syndrome
- Coma
- Circulatory collapse
- Subcortical brain damage
- Blood dyscrasia
- Parkinson's disease
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Binding profile[17]
Protein | cis-flupentixol | trans-flupentixol |
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5-HT1A | 8028 | — |
5-HT2A | 87.5 (HFC) | — |
5-HT2C | 102.2 (RC) | — |
mAChRs[18] | Neg. | Neg. |
D1 | 3.5 | 474 (MB) |
D2 | 0.35 | 120 |
D3 | 1.75 | 162.5 |
D4 | 66.3 | >1000 |
H1 | 0.86 | 5.73 |
Acronyms used:
HFC – Human frontal cortex receptor
MB – Mouse brain receptor
RC – Cloned rat receptor
Its antipsychotic effects are likely caused by D2 and/or 5-HT2A antagonism, whereas its antidepressant effects at lower doses may be mediated by preferential D2/D3 autoreceptor blockade, resulting in increased postsynaptic activation.
Pharmacokinetics
Medication | Brand name | Class | Vehicle | Dosage | Tmax | t1/2 single | t1/2 multiple | logPc | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aripiprazole lauroxil | Aristada | Atypical | Watera | 441–1064 mg/4–8 weeks | 24–35 days | ? | 54–57 days | 7.9–10.0 | |
Aripiprazole monohydrate | Abilify Maintena | Atypical | Watera | 300–400 mg/4 weeks | 7 days | ? | 30–47 days | 4.9–5.2 | |
Bromperidol decanoate | Impromen Decanoas | Typical | Sesame oil | 40–300 mg/4 weeks | 3–9 days | ? | 21–25 days | 7.9 | [19] |
Clopentixol decanoate | Sordinol Depot | Typical | Viscoleob | 50–600 mg/1–4 weeks | 4–7 days | ? | 19 days | 9.0 | [20] |
Flupentixol decanoate | Depixol | Typical | Viscoleob | 10–200 mg/2–4 weeks | 4–10 days | 8 days | 17 days | 7.2–9.2 | [20][21] |
Fluphenazine decanoate | Prolixin Decanoate | Typical | Sesame oil | 12.5–100 mg/2–5 weeks | 1–2 days | 1–10 days | 14–100 days | 7.2–9.0 | [22][23][24] |
Fluphenazine enanthate | Prolixin Enanthate | Typical | Sesame oil | 12.5–100 mg/1–4 weeks | 2–3 days | 4 days | ? | 6.4–7.4 | [23] |
Fluspirilene | Imap, Redeptin | Typical | Watera | 2–12 mg/1 week | 1–8 days | 7 days | ? | 5.2–5.8 | [25] |
Haloperidol decanoate | Haldol Decanoate | Typical | Sesame oil | 20–400 mg/2–4 weeks | 3–9 days | 18–21 days | 7.2–7.9 | [26][27] | |
Olanzapine pamoate | Zyprexa Relprevv | Atypical | Watera | 150–405 mg/2–4 weeks | 7 days | ? | 30 days | – | |
Oxyprothepin decanoate | Meclopin | Typical | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 8.5–8.7 | |
Paliperidone palmitate | Invega Sustenna | Atypical | Watera | 39–819 mg/4–12 weeks | 13–33 days | 25–139 days | ? | 8.1–10.1 | |
Perphenazine decanoate | Trilafon Dekanoat | Typical | Sesame oil | 50–200 mg/2–4 weeks | ? | ? | 27 days | 8.9 | |
Perphenazine enanthate | Trilafon Enanthate | Typical | Sesame oil | 25–200 mg/2 weeks | 2–3 days | ? | 4–7 days | 6.4–7.2 | [28] |
Pipotiazine palmitate | Piportil Longum | Typical | Viscoleob | 25–400 mg/4 weeks | 9–10 days | ? | 14–21 days | 8.5–11.6 | [21] |
Pipotiazine undecylenate | Piportil Medium | Typical | Sesame oil | 100–200 mg/2 weeks | ? | ? | ? | 8.4 | |
Risperidone | Risperdal Consta | Atypical | Microspheres | 12.5–75 mg/2 weeks | 21 days | ? | 3–6 days | – | |
Zuclopentixol acetate | Clopixol Acuphase | Typical | Viscoleob | 50–200 mg/1–3 days | 1–2 days | 1–2 days | 4.7–4.9 | ||
Zuclopentixol decanoate | Clopixol Depot | Typical | Viscoleob | 50–800 mg/2–4 weeks | 4–9 days | ? | 11–21 days | 7.5–9.0 | |
Note: All by intramuscular injection. Footnotes: a = Microcrystalline or nanocrystalline aqueous suspension. b = Low-viscosity vegetable oil (specifically fractionated coconut oil with medium-chain triglycerides). c = Predicted, from PubChem and DrugBank. Sources: Main: See template. |
References
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