What is loxapine?
Loxapine is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in your brain. Loxapine is used to treat the symptoms of psychotic conditions, including hallucinations, delusions, and confusion. Loxapine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?
This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
| Loxitane 10MG Capsules | WATSON LABS | 60/$118.9 or 180/$345.44 |
| Loxitane 25MG Capsules | WATSON LABS | 60/$164.51 or 180/$476.98 |
| Loxitane 5MG Capsules | WATSON LABS | 60/$91.99 or 180/$258.98 |
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What are the possible side effects of loxapine?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking loxapine and
seek emergency medical attention:
-
an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;
swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
-
uncontrollable movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks,
jaw, arms, or legs; or
-
yellowing of your skin or eyes.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue
to take loxapine and talk to your doctor if you experience
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
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How should I take loxapine?
Take loxapine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you Take each dose with a full glass of water. Loxapine can be taken with or without food. Mix the concentrate as directed with orange or grapefruit juice just before it is time for a dose. Loxapine is usually taken several times a day. Follow your doctor's instructions. Do not stop taking loxapine without the approval of your doctor. It may be several weeks before you begin to feel better, and you may require continuous treatment for quite some time. Talk to your doctor before you stop taking this medication.
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What is the most important information I should know about loxapine?
Call your doctor immediately if you experience uncontrollable movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, arms, or legs. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Loxapine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall. Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking loxapine.
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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
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What other drugs will affect loxapine?
Loxapine may increase the side effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives (medicines that treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines, muscle relaxants, and any other drug that makes you feel sleepy or relaxed. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking and do not take any medicine unless your doctor approves. Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with loxapine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
Loxapine has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of embryotoxicity or teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Loxapine is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.
There are no data on the excretion of loxapine into human milk. However, the presence of loxapine and its metabolites have been found in the milk of lactating dogs. The manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering loxapine to nursing women.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Comatose or severe drug-induced (e.g., alcohol, barbiturates, narcotics) depressed states. (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.)
- Known hypersensitivity to loxapine or other dibenzoxazepines (e.g., amoxapine).
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What does my medication look like?
Loxapine is available with a prescription under the brand name Loxitane. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Loxitane 5 mg--green capsules Loxitane 10 mg--green and yellow capsules Loxitane 25 mg--dark-green and light-green capsules Loxitane 50 mg--green and blue capsules Loxitane C 25 mg per mL (concentrate)
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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a loxapine overdose include drowsiness, slurred speech, agitation, restlessness, convulsions, fever, an irregular heartbeat, coma, and death.
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Who should not take loxapine?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or other problems with your liver; kidney disease; heart disease or other heart problems such as high blood pressure, a previous heart attack, or irregular heartbeats; seizures or epilepsy; an enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating; or glaucoma. You may not be able to take loxapine, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. It is not known whether loxapine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take loxapine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or if you are planning a pregnancy.
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
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