Treatment of several illness eg, bipolar depression, mania, schizophrenia.
Dosage/Direction for Use
Maintenance dose: 150-800 mg.
Administration
May be taken with or without food.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity. Medicines for HIV, azole (fungal infections), erythromycin or clarithromycin, nefazodone. Childn <18 yr.
Special Precautions
Fever, muscle stiffness, feeling of being confused & changes in consciousness as a sign of neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Involuntary & abnormal movements, especially of the tongue, mouth & jaw, facial grimacing, rapid eye blinking & uncontrollable movements of arms, legs, fingers & toes as symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. Extrapyramidal symptoms. Dizziness or feeling of severe sleepiness; trouble swallowing; wt gain; fits (seizures); priapism (long-lasting & painful erection). Thoughts of suicide & worsening of depression. Lactose. May affect the ability to drive or operate machinery. Pregnancy & lactation.
Adverse Reactions
Dizziness, headache, dry mouth; feeling sleepy; discontinuation symptoms including not being able to sleep, feeling sick, headache, diarrhoea, being sick, irritability; changes in the amount of certain fats (triglycerides & cholesterol) in the blood; putting on wt; decreased levels of Hb. Leukopenia; fainting; rapid heartbeat; palpitations; dyspnoea; low BP when standing up; stuffy nose; constipation, indigestion, vomiting; extrapyramidal side effects w/ symptoms eg, abnormal & repetitive muscle movements; abnormal dreams & nightmares; increased appetite; increased prolactin in blood; blurred vision; feeling irritated; swelling of arms & legs.
Phenytoin, carbamazepine; medicines used to treat high BP; medicines acting on the CNS; thioridazine; drugs causing an imbalance in electrolytes eg, diuretics or certain antibiotics. Grapefruit juice.
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