- E-Doc Medicine Info for Flunarizine

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Medicine Info: Active Ingredients

Flunarizine

Mechanism:

Flunarazine acts as a specific calcium antagonist, it prevents cellular calium overload by reducing excessive transmembrane calcium influxes.

Indications:

In the prophylaxis of classic and common migraine. Symptomatic treatment of vestibular vertigo (due to a diagnosed functional disorder of the vestibular system).

Contra-Indications:

Hypersensitivity to flunarazine. Patients with a history of depressive illness, or pre-existing symptoms of Parkinson's disease or other extrapyramidal disorders. Safety in pregnancy and lactation has not been established.

Dosage:

Management of overdose:

Symptoms: A few cases of acute overdose have been reported and symptoms included sedation, agitation, tachycardia. Sedation and asthenia may be expected to occur.

Kinetics: Well absorbed from gut. Peak plasma levels with-in 2 - 4 hours. Steady state 5 - 6 weeks. Extensive hepatic metabolism, with metabolites excreted through the faeces via the bile. Mean terminal elimination t1/2 is about 18 days. Plasma protein binding is 99%.

Rx: Administer charcoal, and induce emesis or gastric lavage. Symptomatic and supportive.

Dose:

See Sibelium*

Side-Effects:

Drowsiness, fatigue, weight gain, increased appetite. Also reported during chronic treatment : Depression, of which female patients with a history of depressive illness may be particularly at risk. Extrapyramidal effects such as bradykinesia, rigidity, akathisia, orofacial dyskinesia, tremor ...of which the elderly seem to be at particular risk. Infrequently reported effects are heartburn, nausea, gastralgia, insomnia, anxiety, galactorrhoea, dry mouth, muscle aches, skin rash.

Precautions:

May cause drowsiness, caution if driving or performing hazardous tasks Flunarazine is not suitable in aborting a migraine. May give rise to extrapyramidal and depressive symptoms and reveal Parkinsonism, especially in predisposed patients such as the elderly. Caution in such patients. Caution in depressive patients or those on drugs such as phenothiazines which may cause extrapyramidal effects. Fatigue may increase progressively ...discontinue treatment in such an event. Do not exceed the recommended dosage , and review patient regularly so that extrapyramidal or depressive symptoms may be detected early.

Pregnancy:

Safety in pregnancy and lactation has not been established and as such is contra-indicated.

Porphyria:

Dangerous

Sport:

Permitted

Councelling:

Information source:

List of medicines for porphyria patients June 1991 (DNHPD) Sibelium Package Insert NOCSA

Information last Updated: 1994-08-09

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