Generic

Flunarizine

Indication

Flurizin® is indicated in:

– Prophylaxis of classic (with aura) or common (without aura) migraine.

– Symptomatic treatment of vestibular vertigo (functional disorder of the vestibular system).

Pharmacology

Flunarizine is a selective calcium antagonist. It prevents cellular calcium overload by reducing excessive transmembrane calcium in­uxes. Flunarizine does not interfere with normal cellular calcium homeostasis. Flunarizine also has antihistaminic properties. The e‑ects of Flunarizine in the prophylaxis of migraine are most pronounced with regards to the reduction of the frequency of attacks.

Dosage & Administration

Migraine Prophylaxis

Starting Dose: 10 mg at night in patients less than 65 years of age and 5 mg daily in patients older than 65 years. If, after 2 months of this initial treatment, no signicant improvement is observed, the patient should be considered a non-responder and administration should be discontinued.

Maintenance Treatment: If a patient is responding satisfactorily and if a maintenance treatment is needed, the dose should be decreased to 5 days treatment at the same daily dose with two successive medicine free days every week. Even if the prophylactic maintenance treatment is successful and well tolerated, it should be interrupted after 6 months and it should be re-initiated only if the patient relapses.

Vertigo: The same dosage should be used as for migraine, but the starting treatment should not be given longer than needed for symptom control, which generally takes less than two months.

Interaction

Galactorrhoea has been detailed in few ladies on verbal contraceptives inside the primary two months of Flunarizine treatment. Hepatic protein inducers such as Carbamazepine and Phenytoin may connected with flunarizine by expanding its digestion system. So an increment in dose of flunarizine may be required.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to Flunarizine. Flunarizine is contra-indicated in patients with a history of depressive illness, or with pre-existing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease or other extrapyramidal disorders.

Side Effects

Drowsiness and/or weakness, as well as weight pick up and/or expanded craving may happen. The taking after antagonistic encounters have been detailed amid persistent treatment with Flunarizine: sadness, of which female patients with a history of depressive sickness may be especially at chance; extrapyramidal side effects (such as bradykinesia, inflexibility, akathisia, orofacial dyskinesia, tremor), of which elderly patients appear especially at chance. Rarely detailed unfavorable response are: acid reflux; sickness; gastralgia; sleep deprivation; uneasiness; galactorrhoea; dry mouth; muscle throb; skin rash.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Safety in pregnancy and lactation has not been established.

Precautions & Warnings

Flunarizine may lead to drowsiness which is aggravated by the simultaneous intake of alcohol or other central nervous system depressants. This treatment may give rise to extrapyramidal and depressive symptoms and reveal Parkinsonism, especially in predisposed patients such as the elderly.

Therapeutic Class

Miscellaneous prophylactic migraine preparations

Storage Conditions

Store below 30°C. Keep medicine out of the reach of children.

Pharmaceutical Name

Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd.