Clopixol Depot Dosage/Direction for Use

Posology: Adults: Dosage and interval between injections will be individually adjusted by the treating physician according to the condition of the patient. This in order to achieve a maximum suppression of psychotic symptoms with a minimum of side effects.
Zuclopenthixol decanoate 200mg/ml: In the maintenance treatment the dosage range would normally be 200-400mg (1-2ml) every second to fourth week.
A few patients may need higher doses or shorter intervals between doses.
Injection volumes exceeding 2 ml should be distributed between 2 injection sites.
When changing the medication from oral zuclopenthixol or zuclopenthixol acetate i.m. to maintenance treatment with zuclopenthixol decanoate the following guidelines should be used: 1) Change from oral zuclopenthixol to zuclopenthixol decanoate: x mg p.o. daily corresponds to 8x mg decanoate every 2 weeks; x mg p.o. daily corresponds to 16x mg decanoate every 4 weeks.
Oral zuclopenthixol should be continued during the first week after the first injection but with a reduced dose.
2) Change from zuclopenthixol acetate to zuclopenthixol decanoate: Concomitantly with the last injection of zuclopenthixol acetate (100 mg), 200-400mg (1-2ml) of zuclopenthixol decanoate 200mg/ml should be given intramuscularly and repeated every 2 weeks. Higher doses or shorted interval may be needed.
Zuclopenthixol acetate and zuclopenthixol decanoate can be mixed in a syringe and given as one injection (co-injection).
Patients being transferred from other depot preparations should receive a dose in the ratio of 200 mg zuclopenthixol decanoate equivalent to 25 mg fluphenazine decanoate, to 40 mg cis(Z)-flupentixol decanoate, or to 50 mg haloperidol decanoate.
Subsequent doses of zuclopenthixol decanoate and the interval between injections should be adjusted to the response of the patient.
Older patients: Older patients should receive dosages in the lower end of the dosage range.
Children: Clopixol Depot is not recommended for use in children due to lack of clinical experience.
Reduced renal function: Clopixol Depot can be given in usual doses to patients with reduced renal function.
Reduced liver function: Careful dosing and, if possible, a serum level determination is advisable.
Method of administration: Clopixol Depot is administered by intramuscular injection into the upper outer quadrant of the gluteal region. Injection volumes exceeding 2 ml should be distributed between 2 injection sites. Local tolerability is good.