Thiothixene

Conditions Treated

Thiothixene is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions). Thiothixene is in a group of medications called conventional antipsychotics. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Thiothixene may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• drowsiness
• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• blurred vision
• dry mouth
• excess saliva
• stuffed nose
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• diarrhea
• changes in appetite
• excessive thirst
• weight gain
• widening or narrowing of the pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes)
• blank facial expression
• shuffling walk
• unusual, slowed, or uncontrollable movements of any part of the body
• restlessness
• agitation
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• breast enlargement
• breast milk production
• missed or irregular menstrual periods
• decreased sexual ability in men
• weakness

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• fever
• muscle stiffness
• confusion
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• sweating
• neck cramps
• tongue that sticks out of the mouth
• tightness in the throat
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• fine, worm-like tongue movements
• uncontrollable, rhythmic face, mouth, or jaw movements
• seizures
• rash
• hives
• itching
• vision loss, especially at night
• seeing everything with a brown tint

Thiothixene may cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have any unusual problems during your treatment with thiothixene.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Thiothixene comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken one to three times a day. Take thiothixene at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take thiothixene exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of thiothixene and gradually increase your dose. Thiothixene may help control your condition but will not cure it. Continue to take thiothixene even if you feel well. Do not stop taking thiothixene without talking to your doctor.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before taking thiothixene, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to thiothixene, phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine; or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: antidepressants; antihistamines; atropine (in Motofen, in Lomotil, in Lonox); epinephrine (Epipen); ipratropium (Atrovent); medications for anxiety, high blood pressure, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, ulcers, or urinary problems; certain medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin); narcotic medications for pain; rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, in Rifamate, in Rifater); sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any condition that affects your blood cells. Your doctor may tell you not to take thiothixene. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had seizures, breast cancer, or heart disease. Also tell your doctor if you are experiencing alcohol withdrawal (symptoms that a person may experience when he/she suddenly stops drinking alcohol after drinking heavily or for a long time), or if you have ever had to stop taking a medication for mental illness due to severe side effects. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking thiothixene. you should know that this medication may make you drowsy and may affect your thinking and movements, especially at the beginning of your treatment. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol during your treatment with thiothixene. Alcohol can make the side effects of thiothixene worse. plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Thiothixene may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. you should know that thiothixene may make it harder for your body to cool down when it gets very hot. Tell your doctor if you plan to do vigorous exercise or be exposed to extreme heat. you should know that thiothixene may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start taking thiothixene. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.