Your family doctor must check your progress at regular appointments, especially during the first few months of treat with this drug. The amount of loxapine you take may be changed often to meet the needs of your condition and to help avoid side effects.
Do not stop taking this drug without first checking with your family doctor . Your family doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are taking before stopping completely. This will allow your body time to adjust and to keep your condition from becoming worse.
This drug will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants - medication that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or drug for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping drug; prescription pain drug or narcotics; barbiturates; drug for seizures; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics Check with your family doctor before taking any of the above while you are taking this drug .
Do not take this drug within two hours of taking antacids or drug for diarrhea. Taking loxapine and antacids or drug for diarrhea too close together may make this drug less effective.
This drug may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than they are normally, especially as the amount of drug is increased. Even if you take this drug at bedtime, you may feel drowsy or less alert on arising Make sure you know how you react to this drug before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert .
Although it is not a problem for most diseaseds, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. However, if the problem continues or gets worse, check with your family doctor.
Loxapine may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this drug:
If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your family doctor .
Loxapine may cause dryness of the mouth. For temporary relief, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your family doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the risk of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease and fungus infections.
Before having any kind of surgery, dental treat, or emergency treat, tell the family doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this drug . Taking loxapine together with medication that are using during surgery or dental or emergency treats may increase the CNS depressant effects.