Flurizin 5

Indications

Flurizin serves multiple purposes, including:

• Preventing classic or common migraines with or without aura
• Managing vestibular vertigo due to diagnosed vestibular system disorders
• Addressing Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
• Alleviating motion sickness
• Managing refractory epilepsy that hasn’t responded to standard antiepileptic therapies.

Pharmacology

Flunarizine, a selective calcium channel antagonist and derivative of cinnarizine, controls excessive calcium influx across cell membranes, preventing cellular calcium overload without disrupting normal calcium balance. Additionally, it possesses antihistaminic and sedative properties, binding strongly to plasma proteins.

Dosage & Administration

• Migraine Prophylaxis: Initial dose of 10 mg at night for patients under 65 years and 5 mg for those over 65. Adjustments or discontinuation may be necessary if adverse effects occur. Maintenance treatment involves a decrease in dosage after two months.
• Peripheral Vascular Disease: Typically 10 mg twice daily, with adjustments up to 30 mg daily if required.
• Vertigo & Motion Sickness: Adults may take 10-20 mg daily, while children (over 40 kg) can take 5 mg daily.
• Epileptic Seizure: Adults may take 15-20 mg daily, while children may take 5-10 mg daily as additional therapy.

Interactions

Flurizin may interact with oral contraceptives and hepatic enzyme inducers like Carbamazepine and Phenytoin, potentially necessitating dosage adjustments.

Contraindications

Avoid Flunarizine in patients with hypersensitivity to the drug, a history of depressive illness, or pre-existing Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

Side Effects

Common side effects may include drowsiness, fatigue, weight gain, and increased appetite. Chronic use may lead to depression, extrapyramidal symptoms, gastrointestinal discomfort, insomnia, anxiety, and other reactions.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Safety during pregnancy and lactation is uncertain; caution is advised.

Precautions & Warnings

Flurizin may cause drowsiness, worsened by alcohol or other central nervous system depressants. Patients should avoid activities requiring mental alertness. It is not suitable for aborting migraine attacks and may induce extrapyramidal and depressive symptoms, particularly in elderly or predisposed individuals.

Therapeutic Class

Flurizin falls under miscellaneous prophylactic migraine preparations.

Storage Conditions

Store below 30°C, away from light and moisture, and out of reach of children.