What is Loxapine?

Loxapine is an antipsychotic medication. It affects the actions of chemicals in your brain.
Loxapine is used to treat schizophrenia.
Loxapine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Loxapine?

Loxapine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Loxapine may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to loxapine, or if you have decreased alertness caused by taking certain medications or drinking alcohol.
Call your doctor at once if you have restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.
Loxapine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid drinking alcohol. You should not take loxapine if you are under the effects of alcohol.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Loxapine can decrease perspiration and you may be more prone to heat stroke.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Loxapine?

Loxapine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Loxapine may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to loxapine, or if you have decreased alertness caused by taking certain medications or drinking alcohol.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use loxapine:

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• a history of low white blood cell (WBC) counts
• glaucoma
• urination problems
• heart disease; or
• a history of breast cancer

It is not known whether loxapine is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking loxapine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether loxapine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Loxapine Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Loxapine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking loxapine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
* very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out
* restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck
* tremor (uncontrolled shaking)
* trouble swallowing
* seizure (convulsions)
* easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness
* fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms
* vision changes
* severe constipation; or
* urinating less than usual or not at all
Less serious side effects may include:
* dizziness or drowsiness
* blurred vision
* puffiness in your face
* feeling restless or agitated
* sleep problems (insomnia)
* breast swelling or discharge
* changes in your menstrual periods
* nausea, vomiting, constipation
* changes in weight
* dry mouth, stuffy nose; or
* mild skin rash, itching, or flaking
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs affect Loxapine?

Before using loxapine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). You should not take loxapine if you have drowsiness caused by other medications.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine), belladonna (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop)
• bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva)
• glycopyrrolate (Robinul)
• mepenzolate (Cantil)
• bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare); or
• irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine)

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with loxapine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Loxapine?

Loxapine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid drinking alcohol. You should not take loxapine if you are under the effects of alcohol.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Loxapine can decrease perspiration and you may be more prone to heat stroke.

Loxapine Dosage

How should I take Loxapine?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
Loxapine is usually taken 2 to 4 times daily. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
Take loxapine with a full glass of water.
You may not start feeling better right away when you start taking loxapine. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve during treatment.
Store loxapine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I overdose on Loxapine?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, dizziness, muscle stiffness or twitching, increased salivation, trouble swallowing, weakness, loss of balance or coordination, weak pulse, slow heart rate, weak or shallow breathing, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

What happens if I miss a dose of Loxapine?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Sourced from everydayhealth.com