Adasuve (loxapine) works very quickly (within minutes) to treat anxiety and restlessness (agitation) that occurs with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder. It's given through an inhaler and must be administered by a trained healthcare provider.
Short-term treatment of agitation related to schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder in adults
Adasuve (loxapine) is an antipsychotic. It's not exactly clear how the medication treats agitation, but it's thought to regulate dopamine and serotonin levels in your brain. These natural chemicals affect your thoughts and mood.
Source:Â DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Blurred vision
confusion
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
seizures
sweating
unusual tiredness or weakness
Rare
Inability to sit still
need to keep moving
restlessness
Incidence not known
decrease in the frequency of urination
decrease in urine volume
decreased vision
difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
headache
high fever
inability to move the eyes
increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
increased sweating
loss of balance control
loss of bladder control
mask-like face
nausea or vomiting
nervousness
noisy breathing
pounding in the ears
severe muscle stiffness
shuffling walk
slowed movements
slurred speech
sticking out of tongue
tearing of eyes
tic-like (jerky) movements of the head, face, mouth, and neck
tightness in the chest
tiredness
trembling and shaking of the fingers and hands
trouble breathing, speaking, or swallowing
uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
unusual facial expressions
unusually pale skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Change in taste
drowsiness
loss of taste
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Works quickly within 10 minutes
Given at a provider's office, so you'll be closely monitored for side effects
Good option for people who have trouble swallowing pills
Must be given at a provider's office
Might not be as widely available, because training and certification are required for providers before they can administer it
Can only be given once in a 24-hour period
Adasuve (loxapine) must be given at a provider's office. The dose is given through an inhaler. Your healthcare provider will show you how to take the medication right before you take it.
To take your dose, first, breathe out away from the inhaler in order to empty your lungs. Place the inhaler between your lips and close your lips around it. Inhale with a slow, deep breath, and check that the green light on the inhaler turns off after you inhale. This means that the dose was delivered. Take the inhaler out of your mouth, and hold your breath for as long as you can, up to 10 seconds, then breathe out.
Adasuve (loxapine) can cause dizziness and sleepiness. Don't drive or do anything that requires you to concentrate until you know how this medication affects you.
Adasuve (loxapine) can cause your blood pressure to drop when you change positions. This can cause falls and fainting. Be very careful when you stand after sitting or lying down.
Adasuve (loxapine) can cause constipation, dry mouth, and blurred vision. It can also worsen conditions, such as glaucoma and difficulty urinating. Taking Adasuve (loxapine) with other medications, such as benztropine (Cogentin), trihexyphenidyl, and diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can worsen these side effects. Let your provider know if any of these symptoms become bothersome.
Adasuve (loxapine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Current diagnosis or history of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other lung disease | Symptoms of breathing problems | Taking medications for lung conditions
Adasuve (loxapine) can cause the muscles around your airways to tighten, which can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening breathing problems. This can cause symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, cough, and chest tightness. If you experience any of these symptoms, let your provider know right away. Don't take Adasuve (loxapine) if you have a current diagnosis or history of asthma, COPD, or other lung diseases, if you have symptoms of breathing problems like wheezing, shortness of breath, or cough, or if you take medications for lung conditions.
Because of this risk, Adasuve (loxapine) is only available through a restricted program called the Adasuve Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). This means Adasuve (loxapine) can only be administered by providers who have received specialized training and have certain supplies and medications on site to treat breathing problems, if they occur.
Risk factors: Older adults with dementia-related psychosis
People over the age of 65 who also have dementia sometimes have some schizophrenia-like symptoms, like hallucinations. This is called dementia-related psychosis, and it should not be treated with Adasuve (loxapine). If Adasuve (loxapine) is used for dementia-related psychosis, it can cause strokes or death. Let your provider know if you or your loved one has dementia before starting Adasuve (loxapine).
Adasuve (loxapine) can cause a rare, but life-threatening, condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Symptoms of NMS include high fever, muscle stiffness, confusion, sweating, and changes in heart rate and blood pressure. If you notice any of these symptoms, get medical help right away.
Risk factors: History of heart disease or stroke | Dehydration | Low blood volume | Older age | Taking medications for high blood pressure | Taking medications that lower your blood pressure or heart rate | Taking medications that make you less alert
Adasuve (loxapine) can cause low blood pressure, a sudden drop in blood pressure, sleepiness, and problems with balance, especially when you first start the medication. Dizziness, falls, and fainting can happen due to a sudden drop in blood pressure when you change positions, such as going from sitting to standing. To avoid falling and potential injuries, such as broken bones, change positions slowly until your body is used to the medication.
Risk factors: History of seizures | Conditions that make it easier to have seizures
Adasuve (loxapine) can make you more likely to have seizures, especially if you have a history of seizures or have conditions that make it easier to have a seizure.
Risk factors: Taking medications that make you less alert
Adasuve (loxapine) can affect your judgment, thinking, and coordination, because it can cause a calming effect and sleepiness. Combining Adasuve (loxapine) with other drugs that make you less alert, like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), alprazolam (Xanax), or zolpidem (Ambien), can worsen these symptoms. Don't drive or do anything that requires concentration until you know how this medication affects you.
Adasuve (loxapine) is given through an inhaler and can only be administered by a healthcare provider. The typical dose is 1 inhalation (10 mg) by mouth once for anxiety and restlessness. The maximum dose is 1 inhalation in a 24-hour period.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Asthma, COPD, or other lung diseases
Symptoms that suggest difficulty breathing (e.g., wheezing, shortness of breath, cough)
Take medications that treat lung disease, such as asthma or COPD
Experienced trouble breathing after previous Adasuve (loxapine) treatment
Allergy to loxapine or amoxapine
Short-term treatment of agitation related to schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder in adults
Psychotic and behavioral disorders
Tourette syndrome in adults and children
Hyperactivity in children
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