Fanapt

Before taking this medicine

Do not take Fanapt if you have a known allergy to iloperidone or any ingredient in the tablets. Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema (swelling), have been reported. Fanapt is not recommended for people with severe liver impairment. Do not breastfeed while taking it. Safety and effectiveness have not been established in children and adolescents. Fanapt can prolong the QT interval, a change in the heart’s electrical activity that may be associated with abnormal heart rhythms and sudden death. Avoid taking it with other medicines known to prolong the QT interval. Medicines that slow the breakdown of Fanapt also require caution. Potassium and magnesium levels should be monitored in people at risk of electrolyte disturbances. Tell your prescriber if you have heart disease, disease affecting blood vessels in the brain, dehydration, a risk of fainting, a history of seizures, or conditions that increase seizure risk. Fanapt can cause a drop in blood pressure on standing and fainting; heart rate and blood pressure may need monitoring. Elderly people with dementia-related psychosis have an increased risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack. Other conditions requiring caution include low white blood cell counts or a history of reduced white blood cells, which require blood count monitoring. Blood sugar, blood fats and weight should also be monitored. Fanapt can cause neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a serious reaction requiring immediate discontinuation and close monitoring, and tardive dyskinesia, involving involuntary movements. Prolonged erections have also been reported and may require surgery. Use caution when operating machinery because Fanapt may impair thinking and movement. Tell your eye surgeon if you take Fanapt, as it can cause an iris complication during cataract surgery. Exposure during the third trimester of pregnancy may cause movement-related or withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.