Lunarzin 5 mg (Tablet)
Medicine Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Generic | Flunarizine |
| Company | Ibn sina pharmaceuticals ltd |
| Also available as |
Indications
- Prophylaxis of classic (with aura) or common (without aura) migraine
- Symptomatic treatment of vestibular vertigo (due to a diagnosed functional disorder of the vestibular system)
- Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
- Motion sickness
- Refractory epilepsy resistant to conventional antiepileptic therapy
Pharmacology
Flunarizine is the difluorinated derivative of cinnarizine. It is a selective calcium channel antagonist. By reducing excessive transmembrane influx of calcium Flunarizine prevents cellular calcium overload. It does not interfere with normal cellular calcium homeostasis. Flunarizine also has some antihistaminic and sedative properties. It binds at an affinity of 99% to plasma protein.
Dosage & Administration
- 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, during this treatment depressive, extrapyramidal or other unacceptable symptoms occur, administration should be discontinued. If, after 2 months of this initial treatment, no significant 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.
- Peripheral Vascular disease: 10 mg twice daily, up to 30 mg per day if required.
- Vertigo & motion sickness: 10-20 mg daily for adults and 5 mg daily for children (> 40 kg).
- Epileptic seizure: 15-20 mg daily in adults and 5 to 10 mg daily for children as an add-on therapy
Interaction
Galactorrhoea has been reported in few women on oral contraceptives within the first two months of Lunarzin treatment. Hepatic enzyme inducers such as Carbamazepine and Phenytoin may interact with Lunarzin by increasing its metabolism. So an increase in dosage of Lunarzin 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 fatigue, as well as weight gain and/or increased appetite may occur.
- Depression, extrapyramidal symptoms, heartburn, nausea, gastralgia, insomnia, anxiety, galactorrhoea, dry mouth, muscle ache, skin rash
Pregnancy & Lactation
Safety in pregnancy and lactation has not been established.
Precautions & Warnings
- Lunarzin may lead to drowsiness which is aggravated by the simultaneous intake of alcohol or other central nervous system depressants.
- Not suited for aborting a migraine attack.
- 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
Keep below 30°C temperature, away from light & moisture. Keep out of the reach of children.