Loxapine
About Loxapine
Loxapine is used to treat schizophrenia and manic depression (or bipolar disorder). Loxapine also treats short-term treatment of long-term aggression in people with Alzheimer's dementia and mentally disabled children. Schizophrenia is a mental condition in which the person may feel, hear or see things that are not there, believe things that are not true, or feel unusually suspicious or confused. Manic depression, or bipolar disorder, is a severe brain disorder in which a person experiences extreme mood swings (variance in thinking) and frequent mood and behaviour changes.
Loxapine contains 'Loxapine', which works by blocking the effects of chemical messengers in the brain (i.e., dopamine and serotonin), thereby helping in improving mood, behaviour, and thoughts. Loxapine elevates the symptoms of the disease and prevents them from coming back.
Take Loxapine as your doctor has prescribed it. You are suggested to take $ame as long as your doctor has prescribed it after checking your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects such as Parkinsonism, difficulty sleeping, sleepiness, depression, anxiety, restlessness, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, dizziness, and headache. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Loxapine for as long as your doctor has prescribed. Do not take Loxapine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless prescribed. Loxapine causes drowsiness and dizziness; do not drive unless you are alert. Loxapine can be given to children if prescribed by the doctor for treating conduct disorder. Loxapine should not be given to children for treating schizophrenia or mania. Avoid consuming alcohol with Loxapine as it could lead to increased drowsiness and dizziness. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and medicines to rule out any side effects.
Uses of Loxapine
Medicinal Benefits
Loxapine is used in the treatment of certain mood disorders like schizophrenia. This drug makes a person think more clearly, be less nervous and live a normal life. Loxapine also decreases aggression and wishes to hurt yourself or other persons. It also helps in reducing hallucinations about the things that actually not present there. Being an antipsychotic drug, it works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances like dopamine in the brain.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Loxapine
- Dizziness
- Faintness.
- Blurred vision.
- Weakness.
- Dry mouth.
- Trouble in falling asleep or staying asleep.
- Increased saliva.
- Nausea.
Drug Warnings
Loxapine have some sedative effects, start within 20 to 30 minutes and lasted through 12 hours, so it is advised to avoid driving or doing such work that needs mental alertness. Loxapine can not be used in comatose patients or persons heavily dependent on barbiturates, alcohol, and narcotics. This medicine should not be used in people who are allergic to this medicine or any other component of the drug. Loxapine should be used with caution in elderly persons as they are at more risk of serious side effects of the medicine. Loxapine is not allowed to use for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis. Loxapine can be given to children above 10 years if prescribed by the doctor for treating a mental condition like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Loxapine as it could lead to increased drowsiness and dizziness. Rise slowly from sitting or lying position as Loxapine causes orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering in blood pressure leading to dizziness on standing). Inform your doctor before taking Loxapine if you have diabetes as Loxapine can cause an increase in blood sugar levels. Loxapine may not be suitable for people with a history of prolactin-dependant breast cancer as Loxapine increases the levels of prolactin. Loxapine should not be used in adults to treat dementia-related psychosis.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Loxapine may have interaction with medicines used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (aripiprazole), anxiety disorders (lorazepam, diazepam, alprazolam), depression (citalopram, duloxetine, fluoxetine, escitalopram, trazodone, sertraline), allergy (diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine), mania (divalproex sodium), fits (gabapentin, clonazepam, lamotrigine, pregabalin ), pain (oxycodone, tramadol), asthma (albuterol), psychosis (quetiapine).
Drug-Food Interaction: Loxapine may interact with alcohol, obesity, and high cholesterol levels.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Loxapine may have interactions with dementia (memory loss), CNS depression, liver disease, seizures, low blood pressure, diabetes, lipid alterations, weight gain, parkinsonism, acute alcohol intoxication, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (occurs due to reaction with anti-psychotic drugs), Tardive dyskinesia (repetitive, involuntary movements), irregular heartbeat (with QT interval prolongation), kidney impairment/disease, blood abnormalities, lipid alterations, Priapism (prolonged erection of the penis), and hyperprolactinemia (higher levels of prolactin in the blood).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol while taking Loxapine as it may cause increased drowsiness and lower your blood pressure.
Pregnancy
unsafeAvoid taking Loxapine if you are pregnant unless prescribed by a doctor. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this, your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafeLoxapine can pass into the breastmilk, so it is not safe to breastfeed while taking Loxapine. Consult your doctor before taking Loxapine; your doctor will decide whether Loxapine can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not. Tell your doctor if your baby has symptoms of dizziness or tremor.
Driving
unsafeLoxapine causes tiredness, dizziness and vision problems. Do not drive or operate machinery without consulting your doctor.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with liver impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with kidney impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
cautionThe safety and efficacy of Loxapine are not established in children under the age of 18 years.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
- Regularly attend therapy sessions.
- Perform meditation and yoga.
- Follow a regular sleep pattern.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Learn about your condition, understand the risk factors and follow the doctor’s treatment plan.
Special Advise
While taking Loxapine, you may become more sensitive to extreme temperature conditions (like too hot or too cold temperature), so it is advisable to avoid getting too cold or too hot or becoming dehydrated, especially during summer. Drink plenty of fluid and water to cope with this condition.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Schizophrenia: It is a condition in which the person may see, hear or feel things that are not there, believe things that are not true, or feel unusually suspicious or confused. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, movement disorders, disorganized thinking, loss of interest, lack of emotions, etc.
Manic depression (bipolar disorder): It is a serious brain disorder in which a person goes through unusual mood changes (mood swings) and frequent changes in his/her behaviour and thinking.
FAQs
Loxapine is used to treat schizophrenia and manic depression (or bipolar disorder). It is also used to treat aggression in people with Alzheimer's dementia and mentally disabled children.
Loxapine works by balancing the chemical messengers called neurotransmitters and blocking the effect of dopamine and serotonin located in the brain, thereby helps in improving mood, behaviour and thoughts.
Loxapine can cause tiredness, dizziness and vision problems. So, it is advisable not to drive or operate machinery without consulting your doctor. It may also lower your blood pressure on sudden standing leading to dizziness, so try to get up easily to avoid this.
Loxapine may cause an increase in blood glucose (sugar) levels. So, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is advised while taking Loxapine. Diabetes patients should consult a doctor before taking Loxapine.
Yes, orthostatic hypotension could be a side-effect of Loxapine. Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden lowering in blood pressure leading to dizziness on standing. If you experience this, do not try to stand up suddenly or start walking, instead lie down and get up slowly only when you feel better. People taking Loxapine are advised to regularly monitor their blood pressure levels to avoid such unpleasant events.
Loxapine may make you sweat less, making you more likely to get heatstroke. Avoid doing things that may cause you to overheat, such as hard work or exercise in hot weather, or using hot tubs. When the weather is hot, drink a lot of fluids and dress lightly.
Dry mouth could be a side-effect of Loxapine. Limiting caffeine intake, avoiding smoking and mouthwashes containing alcohol, drinking water regularly, and chewing sugar-free gum/candy might help in stimulating saliva and thereby prevents drying of the mouth.
Loxapine is known to cause increased mortality in people who are elderly with dementia. So, please inform your doctor if you have dementia; before starting Loxapine.
