Tips and Tools
There's a lot of information to keep track of: medication, appointments, changes... Write them down in one place, such as a notebook or calendar, for when you talk to your doctor.
- List all the medication (and dosages) you're supposed to take each day.
- Together with your doctor, set treatment goals. Write them down as a checklist to track your progress.
As difficult as it is to have schizophrenia, caring for someone you love with the illness can be just as difficult, but in different ways.
And although everyone's situation is different, one thing all caregivers can do is to remember to take care of themselves, too, both physically and emotionally. Many caregivers have found valuable help by talking with people in similar situations at support groups.
Caregivers have a lot to keep track of, too.
During a crisis, planning is vital. Keep a record of:
- The names and contact numbers of their doctors and support team.
- A list of all medications (and dosages) they're taking.
- A short history of their experience with the disease, including when he or she was diagnosedand a record of episodes and how they were handled.
- It's also helpful to decide ahead of time which medical center they prefer if hospitalization becomes necessary.
The more decisions you discuss and agree on ahead of time and put into writing when you're both thinking clearly, the easier it will be during a crisis.
Signs of relapse:
If a person with schizophrenia has been feeling and acting better for a whileand then symptoms of schizophrenia return, a relapse may be starting.
Some early warning signs of relapse include:
- Reappearance of psychotic symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations
- Restless sleep
- Feeling tense or fearful
- Difficulty concentrating
- Acting agitated and irritable
- Difficulty with simple, everyday tasks; an inability to cope
If signs of relapse concern you, contact a doctor immediately.
Resources:
This website summarizes important information about Fanapt. If you want more information, talk to your doctor.
If you have any questions, call Vanda Pharmaceuticals at:
1-844-468-2632
Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm (EST)
Other resources:
www.nami.org
1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides support to people with mental illness and their families and friends.
www.nimh.nih.gov
1-866-615-6464 (toll free)
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers information on mental illness and treatment options.
www.mentalhealthamerica.net
Mental Health America is the country's oldest and largest non-profit organization for mental health and mental illness.
INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Fanapt® (iloperidone) is a prescription medication used for the treatment of schizophrenia and the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults.
WARNING: Elderly patients with psychosis related to dementia (having lost touch with reality due to memory loss and experiencing a decline in day-to-day functioning) who are treated with antipsychotic medications are at an increased risk of death compared to patients treated with a placebo. Fanapt® is not approved for use in people with dementia-related psychosis.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
- Patients should not use Fanapt® if they have a known allergy to Fanapt® or its ingredients. Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, rapid swelling of the skin (angioedema) and other symptoms of allergy (eg, throat tightness; swelling of the throat, face, lips, mouth and tongue; hives; rash and itching) have been reported.
- An increased risk of stroke has been reported in clinical studies of elderly people with dementia-related psychosis. Fanapt® is not approved for use in people with dementia-related psychosis.
- Fanapt® may change your heart rhythm (meaning there is more time between heartbeats). Heart rhythm changes have occurred in patients taking Fanapt® and are a risk factor for serious, even life-threatening medical issues. You should tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had heart problems. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you feel faint or have unpleasant feelings of irregular or forceful heartbeats as any of these feelings could be a sign of a rare, but serious side effect that could be fatal. You should not use Fanapt® with other drugs that are known to cause these same heart rhythm issues.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you have some or all of the following symptoms: very high fever, rigid muscles, shaking, confusion, sweating or increased heart rate and blood pressure. These may be signs of a condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a rare but serious side effect that could be fatal. This may happen with Fanapt® or drugs like it.
- Abnormal or uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue or other parts of the body may be signs of a serious condition called tardive dyskinesia (TD), which could become permanent. The chance of this condition going away decreases, depending on how long and how much medication has been taken. Tell your healthcare provider if you have body movements you can't control.
- Fanapt® and medicines like it have been associated with metabolic changes (high blood sugar, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and weight gain) that can increase cardiovascular/cerebrovascular risks. Increases in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), which in some cases can be serious and associated with coma or death, have been reported in patients taking Fanapt® and medicines like it. Changes in cholesterol and triglycerides have been seen in patients taking Fanapt® and medicines like it. Some patients may gain weight while taking Fanapt®. Your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar, fat levels and weight before you start and regularly while you take Fanapt®.
- Tell your healthcare provider about any medical conditions that you have, including problems with your liver. Fanapt® is not recommended for patients with severe liver problems.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of or have a condition that may increase your risk for seizures before you begin taking Fanapt®.
- Light-headedness or faintness caused by a sudden change in heart rate and blood pressure when rising quickly from a sitting or lying position (orthostatic hypotension) has been reported with Fanapt®. This condition is most common when you start therapy, when restarting treatment or when the dose of Fanapt® is increased. You should consult your healthcare provider if you have or have had heart problems or conditions that lead to these sudden changes since Fanapt® should be used with caution in these patients.
- Fanapt® may increase the risk of falls, which could cause fractures or other injuries.
- Decreases in infection-fighting white blood cells (WBCs) have been reported in some patients taking antipsychotic agents. Patients with a preexisting history of low WBC count or who have experienced a low WBC count due to drug therapy should have their blood tested and monitored during the first few months of therapy. Some (including fatal) cases of agranulocytosis, a serious decrease in specific types of WBCs called neutrophils or granulocytes, have been reported in drugs like Fanapt®.
- Fanapt® can increase the level of the hormone prolactin. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience breast enlargement, breast pain or breast discharge, abnormal menstrual cycles in females or impotence in males. If elevated levels of prolactin persist, this may lead to bone loss.
- Medicines like Fanapt® can impact your body's ability to reduce your body temperature. You should avoid overheating and dehydration.
- Fanapt® and medicines like it have been associated with swallowing problems (dysphagia). If you have or have had swallowing problems, you should tell your healthcare provider.
- For males, in the rare event you have a painful or prolonged erection (priapism) lasting 4 or more hours, stop using Fanapt® and seek immediate medical attention.
- Fanapt® and medicines like it can affect your judgment, thinkingor motor skills. You should not drive or operate hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until you know how Fanapt® affects you.
- A condition called intraoperative floppy iris syndrome has been observed in some patients taking drugs like FANAPT®. Please tell your healthcare provider if you take or have taken Fanapt® before cataract or other eye surgeries.
- The most common side effects for Fanapt® versus placebo in patients with schizophrenia were dizziness, dry mouth, feeling unusually tired or sleepy, stuffy nose, feeling faint/light-headed when standing quickly, racing heartbeat and weight gain. The most common side effects for Fanapt® versus placebo in a clinical study of patients with bipolar I disorder were racing heartbeat, dizziness, dry mouth, increase in liver enzymes, stuffy nose, weight gain, low blood pressure and feeling unusually tired or sleepy. Compared to placebo, the average weight gain in clinical studies in schizophrenia lasting 4 to 6 weeks was 6 poundsand in a clinical study of patients with bipolar I disorder over 4 weeks was 7 pounds. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your healthcare provider.
- When taking Fanapt®, you should avoid drinking alcohol and you should not breastfeed.
- You should notify your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or intend to become pregnant while taking Fanapt®.
- Tell your healthcare provider about all prescription and non-prescription medicines and supplements you are taking. Some medications may interact with Fanapt®.
- To access the full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING, visit www.Fanapt.com.
- You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.