Flunarizine — What It Treats and How to Use It Safely
If you’ve heard about flunarizine for migraines or dizzy spells, this short guide tells you the key facts without medical jargon. Flunarizine is mainly used to prevent migraine attacks and to help with certain types of chronic dizziness or vestibular disorders. It’s not a fast-acting painkiller — you take it regularly to reduce how often symptoms happen.
How flunarizine is used
Doctors usually prescribe flunarizine as a daily tablet. The common adult dose is 5–10 mg at night. Taking it at bedtime helps with the sleepiness it can cause. Expect to try it for a few months before judging benefit — many clinicians suggest 2–3 months and then review whether it’s working. If you see fewer migraine days or less severe vertigo, that’s a good sign.
Not everyone can get it. Flunarizine needs a prescription in most countries and isn’t approved everywhere, so check local availability. Your clinician will decide if it’s the right choice based on other health problems and medications you take.
Side effects and safety tips
Know the common side effects: drowsiness, weight gain, and dry mouth are frequent. Two less common but important risks are mood changes (including depression) and movement problems like stiffness or tremor. These movement issues can look like Parkinson’s symptoms and are more likely in older people or after long use.
Stop and contact your doctor if you notice new low mood, slow movements, shaking, or unusual stiffness. Also tell your prescriber about any history of depression, Parkinson’s disease, or severe liver problems — flunarizine is usually avoided in those cases.
Be careful with other medicines that make you sleepy (alcohol, sleeping pills, some pain meds). Combining them can make drowsiness worse. Flunarizine can interact with drugs that affect movement or dopamine systems, so always list all your medicines.
Practical tips: start at the lower dose, take it at night, keep a simple headache or vertigo diary so you can see if it helps, and avoid driving until you know how it affects you. Watch your weight and mood, and get regular check-ins with your prescriber if you stay on it long term.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: don’t start flunarizine if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding unless your doctor says it’s necessary. If there’s any chance you might become pregnant, discuss risks and alternatives first.
Final note: flunarizine can help a lot of people reduce migraine frequency or control persistent vertigo, but it’s not risk-free. Talk openly with your clinician about benefits vs risks, track symptoms, and report worrying side effects right away.
Flunarizine interactions with other medications: A guide for patients
Well, folks, let's dive into the exciting world of Flunarizine interactions! A medication often used for migraines and vertigo, Flunarizine is as social as a prom queen at a high school reunion, mixing and mingling with other drugs in your system. It's like a cocktail party, but in your body! Now, this party can turn into a bummer if mixed with alcohol or antihypertensives, potentially causing dizziness or even fainting. So, as always, it's important to chat with your doctor about all the medications you're taking, to ensure the party in your system stays fun and safe!