Generic name: fluphenazine (floo fen uh zeen)
All FDA black box warnings are at the end of this fact sheet. Please review before taking this medication.
Fluphenazine is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It is also known as a first generation antipsychotic (FGA) or typical antipsychotic. Fluphenazine rebalances dopamine to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
Symptoms of schizophrenia include:
Fluphenazine may help some or all these symptoms.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your health care provider for more information.
Schizophrenia requires long-term treatment. Do not stop taking fluphenazine, even when you feel better.
With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medication.
Missing doses of fluphenazine may increase your risk for a relapse in your symptoms.
Do not stop taking fluphenazine or change your dose without talking with your health care provider first.
For fluphenazine to work properly, the tablet form should be taken every day as ordered by your health care provider. The long-acting injectable form should be received every 2-3 weeks as ordered by your health care provider. It is the same medication as in the tablet form.
If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your health care provider to best manage your medications. People living with schizophrenia or certain other mental illness who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. This is a complex decision since untreated schizophrenia or other mental illness poses risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers.
Antipsychotic use during the third trimester of pregnancy has a risk for abnormal muscle movements (extrapyramidal symptoms [EPS]) and/or withdrawal symptoms in newborns following delivery that may need to be monitored. These may resolve within hours/days without treatment or require hospitalization for monitoring/treatment. Symptoms in the newborn may include agitation, feeding disorder, hypertonia, hypotonia, respiratory distress, somnolence, and tremor; these effects may be self-limiting or require hospitalization.
Breastfeeding is not recommended since fluphenazine does pass into breast milk.
Fluphenazine may help control your symptoms but will not cure your condition.
It may take two to three months before you feel the full effect of fluphenazine.
Fluphenazine is usually taken once or twice daily with or without food. Drinking lots of non-caffeinated liquids is recommended, unless told to drink less liquid from the doctor.
Typically, patients begin at a low dose of medication and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks.
The dose usually ranges from 2.5 mg to 10 mg. The dose of the long-acting injection ranges from 12.5 mg to 37.5 mg every 2-3 weeks. Only your health care provider can determine the correct dose for you.
Use a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication. You may also ask a family member or friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication.
The long-acting injection form of fluphenazine (for those 12 years of age or older) is administered every 2-3 weeks. Your health care provider will administer these injections. The medication effects last for approximately 2-3 weeks.
Fluphenazine liquid suspension should be measured with a dosing spoon or oral syringe, which you can get from your pharmacy.
It is important to take your medication everyday as directed by your health care provider. Do not miss or skip a dose.
If you miss a dose of fluphenazine, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Discuss this with your health care provider. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed. If you miss a dose of fluphenazine long-acting injection, see your health care provider to receive your dose as soon as possible.
Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking fluphenazine. They may decrease the benefits (e.g., worsen your confusion) and increase adverse effects (e.g., sedation) of the medication.
If an overdose occurs call your doctor or 911. You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
A specific treatment to reverse the effects of fluphenazine does not exist.
This is not a complete list. Talk with your health care provider for more information.
Common side effects
Rapid heartbeat, constipation, blurry vision, dry mouth, drop in blood pressure upon standing
Feeling drowsy, dizzy, or restless
Patients receiving fluphenazine decanoate long-acting injection may notice some pain at the site of the injection. This pain should resolve after a few days.
Rare/serious side effects
Fluphenazine may increase the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin. Side effects of increased prolactin levels include females losing their period, production of breast milk and males losing their sex drive or possibly experiencing erectile problems. Long term (months or years) elevated prolactin levels can lead to osteoporosis or increased risk of bone fractures.
Some people may develop muscle related side effects while taking fluphenazine. The technical terms for these are “extrapyramidal symptoms” (EPS) and “tardive dyskinesia” (TD). Symptoms of EPS include restlessness, tremor, and stiffness. TD symptoms include slow or jerky movements that one cannot control, often starting in the mouth with tongue rolling or chewing movements.
Antipsychotics can also affect temperature regulation especially if you exercise a lot or are in an area that is very hot. While taking fluphenazine, it is especially important to try to drink water to avoid dehydration.
All antipsychotics have been associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death due to an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). To minimize this risk, antipsychotic medications should be used in the smallest effective dose when the benefits outweigh the risks. Your doctor may order an EKG to monitor for irregular heartbeat.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare, life threatening adverse effect of antipsychotics which occurs in <1% of patients. Symptoms include confusion, fever, extreme muscle stiffness, and sweating. If any of these symptoms occur, contact your health care provider immediately.
All antipsychotics can cause sedation, dizziness, or orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up from sitting or lying down). These side effects may lead to falls which could cause bone fractures or other injuries. This risk is higher for people with conditions or other medications that could worsen these effects. If falls or any of these symptoms occur, contact your health care provider.
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a side effect that develops with prolonged use of antipsychotics. If you develop symptoms of TD, such as grimacing, sucking, and smacking of lips, or other movements that you cannot control, contact your health care provider immediately. All patients taking either first- or second-generation antipsychotics should have an Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) completed regularly by their health care provider to monitor for TD.
Tell your health care provider about all medications that you take, have recently taken or plan to take including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, herbal products, and nutritional supplements. This medication may affect the way other medications work, and other medications may affect how this medication works.
Fluphenazine may block the effects of agents used to treat Parkinson’s disease such as levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet®), bromocriptine, pramipexole (Mirapex®), ropinirole (Requip®), and others.
Fluphenazine may lower your blood pressure. Medications used to lower blood pressure may increase this effect and increase your risk of falling. Propranolol (Inderal®) is an example of this type of medication.
The following medications may increase the risk of heart problems when used with fluphenazine:
Metoclopramide (Reglan®) may increase the risk of EPS or TD when used in combination with fluphenazine.
The following medications may increase the levels and effects of fluphenazine: bupropion (Wellbutrin®), fluoxetine (Prozac®), duloxetine (Cymbalta®), and paroxetine (Paxil®).
It is especially important to tell your doctor how you feel things are going during the first few weeks after you start taking fluphenazine. It will probably take several weeks to see big enough changes in your symptoms to decide if fluphenazine is the right medication for you. If you take the fluphenazine long-acting injection, it will take a few days before fluphenazine is fully absorbed and at an adequate level to begin treating your symptoms. After starting fluphenazine long-acting injection for the first time, or re-starting after a time of no medication, your provider may also have you take fluphenazine tablets for a few days.
Antipsychotic treatment is generally needed lifelong for persons with schizophrenia. Your doctor can best discuss the duration of treatment you need based on your symptoms and illness.
Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia Related Psychosis
Last Reviewed: January 2024
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Important Disclosure: This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions. Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein. The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists disclaims any and all liability alleged as a result of the information provided herein.
©2023 The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). AAPP and NAMI make this document available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Last Updated: January 2016.
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