Serentil: Drug Information

Generic name: Mesoridazine

Uses of Serentil:

Serentil is recommended for the treatment of schizophrenia and its associated symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations and agitation. Schizophrenic individuals tend to lose touch with reality and are hounded by a variety of false beliefs, audio-visual hallucinations and often get violent. Serentil not only helpsalleviate psychotic conditions but has also proved beneficial in treating restlessness and tension associated with anxiety disorders.

Dosage:

Serentil is available in the form of tablet, liquid concentrate and injection. You can dilute the concentrated form with water or orange juice before taking it. You must lie down and take rest for at least half an hour after taking the injection. It is essential to take the medicine as prescribed by your doctor at regular intervals everyday. Do not stop taking this drug all of a sudden without the consent of your doctor as it may worsen some of your existing symptoms.

Warning and Precautions:

Serentil has the tendency to prolong the QT interval of the electrocardiogram and imposes a high risk for the development of severe and fatal ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes- type which can also result in death.

Caution is advised when administering this medicine to patients diagnosed with severe central nervous (CNS) depression, bone marrow depression, blood dyscrasias, kidney or liver dysfunction, cardiovascular and disease.

This medicine should not be given to patients who show hypersensitivity to Mesoridazine.

This drug should not be given if the patient is unconscious.

Serentil is known to augment the effect of central nervous depressants such as alcohol, anesthetics, analgesics and opiates.

Safety of this drug has not been established during pregnancy and lactation. Thus, it is important for you to notify your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing before taking Serentil.

Serentil should not be given along with other drugs that have the tendency to prolong the QTc interval.

It should also not be given to patients who have a history of cardiac arrhythmias.

Side effects of Serentil:

Some of the most common side effects of the medication include drowsiness, nausea, vertigo, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, weight gain, changes in appetite, restlessness, anxiety and constipation.