Flunarizine: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions, Price & More

June 15, 2018

What is Flunarizine?

Flunarizine belongs to a group of drugs called as “calcium channel blocker” and is primarily used in the prevention of migraine.

Flunarizine is available in two forms:

5mg Tablet
10mg Tablet

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Uses of Flunarizine

Flunarizine can be used in the prevention, control and treatment of following diseases:
Prevention of migraine attacks
Reduction of frequency and intensity of migraine attacks
Prevention and treatment of vertigo
Refractory epilepsy resistant to conventional anti-epileptic therapy
Peripheral vascular disease
Motion sickness
Flunarizine can also be used for purposes not mentioned above.

How does Flunarizine work?

Flunarizine is a selective calcium channel antagonist which blocks the entry of calcium through calcium channels and prevents cellular calcium overload.
Flunarizine also had additional anti-histaminic (anti-allergic) property.

Flunarizine Price in India

Specifics	Flunarizine Price
Strips of 10 Tablets	Rs 42.55

How to Take Flunarizine?

The dosage and duration of Flunarizine is based on your age, physical condition, and response to therapy and as advised by the doctor.
Flunarizine is well absorbed orally and may be taken with or without food or as advised. For patients with gastric problems, it is better to take it after food.
For ideal results, it should always be taken at a fixed time preferably bed time.
The tablet should be swallowed as a whole without crushing, chewing or breaking it along with plenty of fluids.
The medicine should not be stopped on your own without doctor’s advice or before the stipulated course of the therapy is completed.
If it is taken as over the counter product, check the label for directions before use.

Common Dosage for Flunarizine

Dosage is usually determined by your physician based on your condition.
The recommended therapeutic dosage for Flunarizine in adults is 10mg once daily at night.
For patients above 65years of age and children, 5 mg once daily dose of Flunarizine is recommended.
If the patient responds well to the above mentioned treatment, then in maintenance phase, similar dose can be administered for 5 days in a week with 2 successive medicine free days every week.
Maintenance phase therapy can be continued for up to 6 months if well tolerated.
In case if your condition persists or worsens, discontinue the drug and inform your doctor.

Also Read:  Flagyl 400 Dosage | Femilon Dosage | Febrex Plus Dosage

Precautions- When to Avoid Flunarizine

Flunarizine should be avoided or used with caution in:

Patients with allergy to any of its components
Patients suffering from depression
Parkinson’s disease or other extra pyramidal disorders
Patients with liver disease

Other medicine's Precautions: Flexon MR Precautions | Flexura D Precautions

Side-effects of Flunarizine

In addition to its intended uses, it may cause few undesirable side effects as well. List of the most commonly observed side effects include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Weight gain
Increased appetite
Anxiety
Depression
Dizziness
Fatigue
Sedation
Menstrual irregularities
Muscle ache
Skin rash
In addition it may cause some other allergic or unwanted effects. In such cases, seek medical attention immediately.

Effect on organs

Flunarizine may affect central nervous system and can produce a variety of effects including depression, anxiety, dizziness, fatigue, sedation etc.
Patients with severe liver disease should use Flunarizine with caution and under supervision of a doctor.

Reported Allergic Reactions

Report to your doctor if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Signs of allergic reaction include:
Rashes/itching of skin
Shortness of breath
Swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
Loss of consciousness

Drug Interactions to Be Careful About

Drug interactions refer to effect of drugs on each other and on human body after ingestion. Large numbers of medicines have shown to interact with each other.
It is always advised that the patient must inform the physician about all the drugs/over the counter products/vitamin supplements used before using Flunarizine.
All the possible drug interactions might not be listed here. Few important drug interactions are listed below:
Alcohol
Phenytoin
Carbamazepine
Diazepam
Amiodarone
Oral contraceptives
Using all these medicines along with Flunarizine can influence the therapeutic effect of these medicines and also can increase the chances of side effects.
Thus dose alteration or drug replacement might be needed when flunarizine is taken along with these drugs.

Shows Effects / Results In:

A complete dose prescribed by your doctor must be taken for complete cessation of symptoms from your body.
Changes in the body are observed over a period of 2-3 weeks after administration of Flunarizine as the effects of this medicine are cumulative.

Other medicine's Side Effect: EVION LC Side Effect | EVION 400 Side Effect

Storage of Flunarizine

Store at cool and dry place away from direct heat and moisture.
Do not freeze the medicine.
Keep medicines away from children and pets.

Pro Tips When Taking Flunarizine

Flunarizine is not indicated for use in acute migraine attack. It is used for prophylaxis measure to reduce the severity and incidence of migraine attacks

In a small proportion of patients, depression is commonly seen as a side effect especially in younger patients. Seek medical care immediately in such instances.

Also read about other medicine: Etoshine 90

FAQ

Is Flunarizine addictive?

No habit forming tendency has been reported.

Can I have Flunarizine with alcohol?

Consumption of alcohol is not recommended when on Flunarizine therapy as it may increase the risk of adverse effects like dizziness and sedation.

Any particular food item to be avoided?

No alteration in its action seen with any food product.

Can I have Flunarizine when pregnant?

Flunarizine is not recommended during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant for case specific recommendations.

Can I have Flunarizine when feeding a baby?

Flunarizine is not recommended for use while you are breast feeding.
Consult your doctor for case specific recommendations.

Can I drive after taking Flunarizine?

Flunarizine intake is associated with a majority of CNS side effects like dizziness, sedation, decreased alertness.
Therefore it may not be advisable to drive a vehicle and operate heavy machinery while on this medication.

What happens if I overdose on Flunarizine?

Flunarizine should never be administered in more than prescribed dose.
Taking more medication or with increased frequency may cause serious side-effects like sedation, increased heart beat and agitation.
If anyone is suspected of an over-dosage, seek medical care immediately.

What happens if I take expired Flunarizine?

A single dose of expired Flunarizine may not cause any major adverse effect. However, the potency of the medicine may well have decreased overtime.
Please inform your physician regarding the same if expired medicines have been taken chronically for a longer duration.

What happens if I miss a dose of Flunarizine?

The medicine may not work well if you miss a dose because for effective working of the drug, a certain amount of drug must be present in your body at all times.
Always consume the missed dose as soon as you remember it. But, if it’s already time to take the second dose after that – do not take double dose.