Clopixol 2 mg film-coated tablets – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

1. What Clopixol Tablets are and what they are used for

The name of your medicine is Clopixol 2 mg, 10 mg or 25 mg filmcoated tablets (called Clopixol Tablets in this leaflet). Clopixol Tablets contain the active substance zuclopenthixol and belong to a group of medicines known as antipsychotics (also called neuroleptics).

These medicines act on nerve pathways in specific areas of the brain and help to correct certain chemical imbalances in the brain that are causing the symptoms of your illness.

Clopixol Tablets are used for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychoses.

Your doctor, however, may prescribe Clopixol Tablets for another purpose. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Clopixol Tablets have been prescribed for you.

2. What you need to know before you take Clopixol Tablets

Clopixol Tablets with food, drink and alcohol

Clopixol Tablets can be taken with or without food.

Clopixol Tablets may increase the sedative effects of alcohol making you drowsier. It is recommended not to drink alcohol during treatment with Clopixol Tablets.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor. Clopixol should not be used during pregnancy, unless clearly necessary.

The following symptoms may occur in newborn babies, of mothers that have used Clopixol Tablets in the last trimester (last three months of their pregnancy): shaking, muscle stiffness and/ or weakness, sleepiness, agitation, breathing problems, and difficulty in feeding. If your baby develops any of these symptoms you may need to contact your doctor.

Breast-feeding

If you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor for advice. Clopixol Tablets should not be used when breast-feeding, as small amounts of the medicine can pass into the breast milk.

Fertility

Zuclopenthixol may decrease your sexual activity and fertility. These are not lasting effects. Please talk to your doctor about any problems.

Do not take Clopixol Tablets

• If you are allergic to zuclopenthixol, other thioxanthene

  drugs or antipsychotic drugs or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

• If you are feeling less alert than usual, or are drowsy

  or sleepy or have serious problems with your blood circulation

  Driving and using machines

  There is a risk of feeling drowsy and dizzy when using Clopixol Tablets, especially at the start of your treatment. If this happens do not drive or use any tools or machines until you know you are not affected in this way.

  Do not drive if you have blurred vision.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Clopixol Tablets:

• If you have a heart condition, including an irregular

  heart beat (such as a slower heart beat); have had a recent heart attack or have problems that cause ankle swelling or shortness of breath

• If you have severe breathing problems (such as asthma

  or bronchitis)

• If you have liver, kidney or thyroid problems

• If you suffer from epilepsy, or have been told that you

  are at risk of having fits (for example because of a brain injury or because of alcohol withdrawal)

• If you suffer from Parkinson’s disease, or myasthenia

  gravis (a condition causing severe muscular weakness)

• If you have an enlarged prostate or suffer from a

  condition known as phaeochromocytoma (a rare type of cancer of a gland near the kidney)

• If you suffer from glaucoma (raised pressure within the

  eye)

• If you have risk factors for stroke (e.g. smoking,

  hypertension)

• If you have too little potassium or magnesium in your

  blood or a family history of irregular heart beats

• If you use other antipsychotic medicines
• If you suffer from diabetes

• If you or someone else in your family has a history

  of blood clots, as medicines like these have been associated with formation of blood clots

Movement disorders such as tremors and muscle spasm may occur, especially during the first few days after initiating therapy. Inform your doctor as the dose may need to be reduced. Inform your doctor if symptoms of a constant urge to move are persistent, as these symptoms can be controlled by the appropriate medication. Inform your doctor if you experience uncontrolled movements of the face and jaw, as therapy discontinuation may be needed.

Difficulty in swallowing may occur as a secondary effect of extrapyramidal symptoms (such as tremors, muscle spasm or movement disorder), sedation (sleepiness), increased salivation, and/or neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a rare dangerous reaction with fever, rigid muscles, changing blood pressure and coma).

Children and adolescents

Clopixol is not recommended in this patient group.

Other medicines and Clopixol Tablets

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken or might take any other medicines.

The following medicines should not be taken at the same time as Clopixol Tablets:

• Medicines that change the heartbeat (quinidine,

  amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, erythromycin, moxifloxacin, cisapride, lithium

• Other antipsychotic medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Tricyclic antidepressants

• Barbiturates or other medicines that make you feel

  drowsy

• Anticoagulant drugs used to prevent blood clots

  (e.g. warfarin)

• Anticholinergic drugs (contained in some cold, allergy

  or travel sickness remedies as well as other medicines)

• Metoclopramide (used to treat nausea and other

  stomach conditions)

• Piperazine (used to treat worm infections)

• Levodopa or other medicines used to treat Parkinson’s

  disease

  Clopixol Tablets contain lactose and hydrogenated castor oil

  If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

  Hydrogenated castor oil may cause stomach upset and diarrhoea.

3. How to take Clopixol Tablets

Always take Clopixol Tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The dose varies and depends on the severity of the illness. The total amount of tablets you need to take each day will be split into at least two doses (for example a morning and evening dose).

Adults

Daily doses of Clopixol Tablets range from 4 mg to 150 mg. The daily dose at the start of treatment is usually 20 mg to 30 mg each day.

This dose is then usually adjusted to between 20 mg and 50 mg each day.

The maximum dosage per single dose is 40 mg.

If you have liver problems, the level of zuclopenthixol in your blood may be checked.

Older patients (above 65 years of age)

The initial dose is between a quarter and a half of the adult dose.

Use in children

Clopixol Tablets are not recommended for children.

How to take Clopixol Tablets

Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Do not chew them.

Duration of treatment

It may take between four and six months before you feel better. Your doctor will decide the duration of treatment.

If you feel that the effect of Clopixol Tablets is too strong or weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

It is important that you continue to receive your medicine at regular intervals even if you are feeling completely well because the underlying illness may persist for a long time. If you stop your treatment too soon your symptoms may return.

If you take more Clopixol Tablets than you should

If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too many Clopixol Tablets contact your doctor or nearest hospital casualty department immediately. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Take the Clopixol container with you if you go to a doctor or hospital.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• Drowsiness
• Unconsciousness
• Muscle movements or stiffness
• Fits
• Low blood pressure, weak pulse, fast heart rate, pale skin, restlessness
• High or low body temperature
• Changes in heart beat including irregular heart beat or slow heart rate

^GB-619215 • Men may experience breast enlargement or problems with ejaculation or erections (including prolonged erections)

If you forget to take Clopixol Tablets

If you forget to take a dose, take the next dose at the usual time.

• Women may experience an absence of menstrual periods, vaginal dryness or problems with orgasms

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.

• Fits
• Bruising under the skin
• Increased thirsts

If you stop taking Clopixol Tablets

Your doctor will decide when and how to stop your treatment to avoid any unpleasant symptoms that might occur if it is stopped abruptly (eg difficulty in sleeping, muscle stiffness, feeling unwell).

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

• Reduction in blood platelets (which increases the risk of bleeding or bruising) and other blood cell changes
• Raised blood levels of glucose, lipids or the hormone prolactin

If you have any further questions on the use of this product ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

• Loss of control of blood sugar levels
• Unexpected excretion of breast milk

4. Possible side effects

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• Liver enlargement

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Older people tend to be more likely to suffer from some of these effects than younger people and this may mean your treatment is supervised more closely.

Serious side effects

Stop taking Clopixol Tablets and seek medical advice immediately if you have any of the following allergic reactions:

• Difficulty in breathing

• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat which causes

  difficulty in swallowing or breathing

• Severe itching of the skin (with raised lumps)

Blood clots in the veins especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain and redness in the leg), which may travel through blood vessels to the lungs causing chest pain and difficulty in breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms seek medical advice immediately.

If you get any of the following symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately as your dose may need to be reduced or stopped:

Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

• Unusual muscle movements such as stiffness, tremor

  and restlessness (for example difficulty in sitting or standing still) as these may be signs of a so-called “extra pyramidal” reaction

  As with other medicines that work in a way similar to zuclopenthixol (the active ingredient of Clopixol Tablets), rare cases of the following side effects have been reported:

  • Slow heartbeat and abnormal ECG heart tracing
  • Life threatening irregular heart beats

In rare cases irregular heart beats (arrhythmias) may have resulted in sudden death.

In older people with dementia, a small increase in the number of deaths has been reported for patients taking antipsychotics compared with those not receiving antipsychotics.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see details below).

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

United Kingdom

Via Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

5. How to store Clopixol Tablets

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Unusual movements of the mouth and tongue as these

  may be early signs of a condition known as tardive dyskinesia

• Circular movements of the eyes

Rare (may occur in up to 1 out of 1000 people):

• Difficulty in swallowing (see section 2)

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• High fever, unusual stiffness of the muscles and

  changes in consciousness, especially if occurring with sweating and fast heart rate. These symptoms may be signs of a rare but serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome that has been reported with the use of Clopixol tablets and similar medicines

• Any yellowing of the skin and the white in the eyes

  (jaundice); your liver may be affected

Other side effects:

Side effects are most pronounced in the beginning of the treatment and most of them usually wear off during continued treatment.

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• 2 mg tablets: Store in the original container in order to protect from light.
• 10 mg and 25 mg tablets: These medicinal products do not require any special storage conditions.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Clopixol Tablets contain

The active substance is zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride.

Each tablet contains 2 mg, 10 mg or 25 mg of zuclopenthixol.

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth

• Movement disorder (Extrapyramidal symptoms) –

  due to effects on a part of the brain that regulates movements which may result in tremors, muscle spasms or movement disorders (see section 2)

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Throbbing or fast heartbeats
• Tremor
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Headache
• Numbness or tingling in the arms and legs
• Poor concentration, loss of memory or confusion
• A changed walking pattern
• Stuffy nose
• Shortness of breath
• Increase in saliva
• Abnormal vision
• Feeling sick or vomiting
• Constipation or diarrhoea

• Abnormal urination (increases or decreases in the

  frequency or amount)

• Increased sweating
• Itching
• Muscle pain
• Increased appetite, weight increased
• General weakness or pain, tiredness or feeling unwell
• Insomnia, abnormal dreams or nightmares
• Depression or anxiety
• Nervousness or agitation

• Decreased sexual drive (libido decreased)

  The other ingredients are potato starch, lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, copolyvidone, glycerol, talc, hydrogenated castor oil, magnesium stearate, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, macrogol, titanium dioxide (E171) and the red colour E172 (iron oxide).

  What Clopixol Tablets look like and contents of the pack

  Description of Clopixol Tablets:

  The 2 mg tablets are round, biconvex, pale red. The 10 mg tablets are round, biconvex, light red-brown. The 25 mg tablets are round, biconvex, red-brown.

  Clopixol Tablets are available in plastic containers or glass bottles containing 100 tablets.

  Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

  Marketing Authorisation Holder

  Lundbeck Limited

  Iveco House,

  Station Road,

  Watford,

  Hertfordshire,

  WD17 1ET,

  UK

  Manufacturer

  H. Lundbeck A/S

  Ottiliavej 9

  DK-2500 Valby

  Denmark

  This leaflet was last revised in 04/2026.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Loss of co-ordination or altered muscle movements

  (including unusual movements of the mouth, tongue and eyeballs)

• Stiff or floppy muscles (including stiff jaw and neck

  muscles)

• Abnormal reflexes
• Rigidity of the whole body
• Fainting
• Migraine
• Speech problems
• Sensitive hearing or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Enlarged pupils or blurred vision
• Indigestion or stomach pain
• Flatulence (wind)
• Greasy skin

• Rashes or skin reactions (including sensitivity to

  sunlight)

• Changes in skin colour
• Decreased appetite, weight decreased
• Low blood pressure
• Hot flushes

• Reduced or increased body temperature (including

  fever)

• Abnormal liver function tests
• Apathy

• Increased sexual drive (libido increased)

  To request a copy of this leaflet in braille, large print or audio please call free of charge:

  0800 198 5000

  Please be ready to give the following information:

  Product name Product code number

  Clopixol 2 mg film-coated tablets PL 00458/0027 Clopixol 10 mg film-coated tablets PL 00458/0028 Clopixol 25 mg film-coated tablets PL 00458/0029

  This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.