ABSTRACT
This chapter describes trade name, classification, approved indications for psychological disorders, available dosage forms, storage, and compatibility, usual dosage and administration, relative contraindications, and clinically significant drug interactions of flupenthixol. The injectable form of flupenthixol is a long-acting depot formulation that appears useful for maintenance pharmacotherapy for patients who have been stabilized with the oral flupenthixol formulation and would benefit from dosing every two to three weeks with the long-acting formulation. The short-acting oral formulation of flupenthixol is well absorbed following oral ingestion and achieves maximum blood concentrations within 3 to 8 hours. Flupenthixol may potentiate the action of anticholinergics or other drugs that produce anticholinergic action. Flupenthixol pharmacotherapy commonly has been associated with extrapyramidal reactions, including tardive dyskinesia. Other ADRs follow, listed according to body system. Flupenthixol shares many of the chemical and pharmacological properties of other thioxanthenes and the phenothiazines. Flupenthixol overdosage requires emergency symptomatic medical support of body systems with attention to increasing flupenthixol elimination.
