Typical depot antipsychotic
Flupentixol decanoate
Brand names: Depixol, Modecate
Adult dose
Dose: Test dose 20mg IM; usual 50mg every 4 weeks (range 50–300mg every 1–4 weeks; max 400mg/week)
Route: Deep IM
Frequency: every 1–4 weeks
Clinical pearls
- Maintenance treatment in schizophrenia, particularly where adherence is an issue
Contraindications
- Excitable/overactive states
- Phaeochromocytoma
- Subcortical brain damage
- CNS depression
- Severe cardiovascular disease
Side effects
- EPSE
- Tardive dyskinesia
- Sedation
- Anticholinergic effects
- Hyperprolactinaemia
- Injection site reactions
Interactions
- QT-prolonging drugs
- Lithium (neurotoxicity)
- CNS depressants
Monitoring
- BP
- Weight
- Glucose
- Lipids
- ECG
- Prolactin
Reference: BNF; Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/flupentixol-decanoate/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- Acute Behavioural Disturbance / Rapid Tranquillisation · RCEM 2022; RCPsych 2022; NICE NG10
- Self-Harm Presentation · NICE NG225 (2022)
- Capacity Assessment (Mental Capacity Act) · MCA 2005; Code of Practice
- Acute Psychosis Management · NICE CG178 2014
- Depression Management · NICE CG90 2022
- Lithium Therapy Monitoring · NICE CG185 / BNF