| Navane (Thiothixene)
[thigh-oh-THICKS-een] |
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What is
Navane Use For?
This medication is used to treat a certain mental/mood disorder
(schizophrenia). Navane can improve the symptoms of
schizophrenia, making it easier to function in everyday life. It
belongs to a class of drugs known as antipsychotics. It works by
affecting the balance of certain chemicals in the brain.
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How Should
Navane Be Taken?
Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually 1-3
times daily or as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on
your medical condition and response to therapy. Your doctor may
start you at a low dose and gradually increase your dose over
several weeks. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. This
medication does not work right away. It may take up to 2-3 weeks
before you experience the full benefits. Take this medication
regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you
remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. Do not stop
taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Your
condition may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped.
Your dose may need to be gradually decreased. Inform your doctor
if your condition persists or worsens.
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What Are The
Side Effects?
Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, blurred vision, tiredness,
nausea, constipation, stuffy nose, increased thirstiness, and
trouble sleeping may occur. Rarely, you may also be more
sensitive to sunburn and less able to tolerate heat/strenuous
exercise (see Precautions section). If any of these effects
persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because
he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication for
longer time periods may develop serious side effects, but with
frequent visits to your doctor, this risk can be minimized. Tell
your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious
side effects occur: feelings of
restlessness/agitation/jitteriness, mask-like facial expression,
shuffling walk, drooling, uncontrolled shaking of the hands,
twitching in the face, muscle spasm/weakness, trouble
swallowing, uncontrollable movements of the mouth/face/hands,
unusual mental/mood changes (e.g., depression, worsening of
psychosis), trouble urinating, severe constipation, unexplained
weight gain, increased appetite, loss of appetite, swelling of
the feet/ankles, nipple discharge, unusual breast milk
production, swollen/tender breasts, changes in menstrual flow,
decreased sexual ability, darkening of skin color, fainting. For
males, in the very unlikely event you have a painful, prolonged
erection (lasting more than 4 hours), stop using this drug and
seek immediate medical attention or permanent problems could
occur. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but
very serious side effects occur: irregular heartbeat, seizures,
easy bruising/bleeding. This drug may infrequently cause a
serious (sometimes fatal) nervous system problem (neuroleptic
malignant syndrome). Seek immediate medical attention if you
notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects:
fever, rigid muscles, increased sweating, fast heartbeat,
mental/mood changes, change in the amount of urine. A very
serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek
immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling
(especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness,
trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side
effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact
your doctor or pharmacist. Contact your doctor for medical
advice about side effects. The following numbers do not provide
medical advice, but in the US you may report side effects to the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada,
you may call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
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Is There Any
Special Precautions?
Before taking Navane, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are
allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This
medication should not be used if you have certain medical
conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or
pharmacist if you frequently take alcohol/narcotics to become
intoxicated. Navane should also not be used in those who are in
a coma (unable to wake up) or in shock (unconscious with
severely low blood pressure). This medication should not be used
in a patient who is unconscious. Before using this medication,
tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially
of: breast cancer, seizure disorder, certain heart problems
(e.g., angina), heart rhythm problems, very high or low blood
pressure, blood disorders (e.g., low white or red blood cells),
severe liver problems. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or
cause blurred vision. Use caution while driving, using
machinery, or doing any activity that requires alertness and
clear vision. Avoid alcoholic beverages. To minimize dizziness
and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or
lying position. This medication may rarely make you more
sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning
booths, and sunlamps. Wear sunblock (SPF 30 or greater) and a
hat when outdoors. Caution is advised during hot weather because
Navane may rarely decrease your ability to sweat, leading to
fever or heatstroke. Drink plenty of fluids and dress lightly.
Avoid strenuous exercise in hot weather. If you become
overheated, promptly seek cooler shelter and/or stop exercising.
Seek immediate medical attention if your body temperature is
above normal or if you have mental/mood changes, headache, or
dizziness. Facial/muscle twitching and uncontrollable movements
(tardive dyskinesia) may occur with this medication and may be
permanent. It is not known which people are at risk of having
this effect become irreversible. The risk may be greater with
large doses and prolonged use of this medication. Discuss ways
to minimize this risk with your doctor. Caution is advised when
using this drug in the elderly because they may be more
sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially drowsiness,
dizziness (which may increase the risk of falls), and the
development of uncontrolled movements (e.g., tardive dyskinesia).
Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they
may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug. During
pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly
needed. Infants exposed to this medication during pregnancy may
develop muscle/movement problems. Discuss the risks and benefits
with your doctor. It is not known whether this drug passes into
breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
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What Are
The Drug Interactions?
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible
drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not
start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before
checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should
not be used with the following medications because very serious
interactions may occur: sibutramine, cabergoline, pergolide. If
you are currently using any of these medications listed above,
tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting thiothixene.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of
all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may
use, especially of: lithium, carbamazepine, ropinirole. Also
tell your doctor if you take any drugs that might increase your
risk of a seizure when combined with Navane, such as bupropion,
isoniazid (INH), phenothiazines (e.g., thioridazine,
chlorpromazine), theophylline, tramadol, and tricyclic
antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), among others. Consult
your doctor or pharmacist for details. This document does not
contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this
product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you
use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the
list with your doctor and pharmacist.
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What Do I Do I Case Of An Overdose?
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control
center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the
US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents
can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of
overdose may include: muscle twitching, severe
drowsiness/dizziness, rigid state, weakness, shakiness,
drooling, inability to wake up (coma).
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What Else
Should I Know?
Do not share this medication with others. Do not miss medical
and laboratory test appointments. Laboratory and/or medical
tests (e.g., liver function, eye exams) should be performed
periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
Consult your doctor for more details.
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What Happens
If I Miss A Dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is
near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume
your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Is There A Special Warning With Navane?
There may be a slightly increased risk of serious, possibly
fatal side effects (e.g., pneumonia, heart failure) when this
medication is used in older adults with dementia. This
medication is not approved for the treatment of dementia-related
behavior problems. Discuss the risks and benefits of this
medication, as well as other effective and possibly safer
treatments for dementia-related behavior problems, with the
doctor.
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What If I Have More Questions?
This is a summary and does not contain all possible information
about this product. For complete information about this product
or your specific health needs, ask your health care
professional. Always seek the advice of your health care
professional if you have any questions about this product or
your medical condition. This information is not intended as
individual medical advice and does not substitute for the
knowledge and judgment of your health care professional. This
information does not contain any assurances that this product is
safe, effective, or appropriate for you. |
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Medical Alert:
Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency.
For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call
1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada). |
