What if Fanapt is the medication you've been looking for?

Trial and error is a challenge everyone with schizophrenia faces while working with his or her doctor to find the right treatment.

Fanapt is a type of prescription medicine used for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Fanapt has been shown to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Fanapt tablets are indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.

Deciding to look at alternate medications is something your doctor may do. He or she needs to consider that Fanapt may change your heart rhythm (meaning there is more time between heartbeats). When taking other drugs that may cause this same change in heart rhythm, you are at a higher risk of a serious, even life-threatening medical issue (torsade de pointes), which may result in sudden death. In many cases, your doctor may prescribe another medicine to treat schizophrenia before trying Fanapt.

Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

Fanapt needs to be taken as directed, starting at a low dose and slowly increasing the strength. This may delay the control of symptoms in the first 1 to 2 weeks of treatment. Treatment with Fanapt for longer than 6 weeks has not been evaluated. Your doctor will evaluate the long-term usefulness of Fanapt for you.

Starting Fanapt:

Fanapt is available in a specially designed starter pack. Treatment will begin at a lower dose of medication. You'll get used to Fanapt slowly by increasing the dosage strength over the course of 4 to 7 days, or as directed by your doctor. You must start at a low dose to help avoid light-headedness or faintness caused by a change in heart rate and blood pressure when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Fanapt needs to be taken as directed, starting at a low dose and slowly increasing the dosage strength. This may delay the control of symptoms in the first 1 to 2 weeks of treatment. Treatment with Fanapt for longer than 6 weeks has not been evaluated. Your doctor will evaluate the long-term usefulness of Fanapt for you.

How to take Fanapt:

• Take 1 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening.
• Swallow the tablets whole, with or without food.
• Never change your dose or stop taking your meds without discussing it with your doctor.
• One of the most important things to remember is to keep taking your Fanapt even when you start to feel better.

Fanapt Starter Package:

Be sure to start taking Fanapt exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Tips to help make sure you don't miss a dose:

• Try linking in your mind the time when you take your meds to a daily activity, for instance after brushing your teeth in the morning and at night. Some people like to put their meds in a place where they'll always see them at that time, such as a shelf in the bathroom (out of children's reach).
• Set an alarm on a clock, watch, or phone to remind you when to take your meds. Or make arrangements with someone you trust to text you.
• Mark a calendar or journal when you take your meds.
• Use a pill holder to show whether you've taken your dose or not.
• Ask a family member or friend to remind you to take your meds.
• Use rubber bands to signal when you've taken your Fanapt. Start the day with two bands on your wrist, then take one off when you take each dose.

Fanapt and other medicines:

While you're on Fanapt, always check with your doctor before starting any new prescription or over-the-counter medicines you can get without a prescription, including any natural/herbal remedies. Some medicines may be unsafe to use when taking Fanapt. Some medicines can affect how well Fanapt works.

Overdose:

In case of overdose, call your doctor or poison control center immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

Who should NOT take Fanapt?

• Elderly patients with psychosis related to dementia (having lost touch with reality due to memory loss and are experiencing a decline in day-to-day functioning).
• People with liver disease.
• Women who are pregnant, might be pregnant, or plan to get pregnant.
• People with a known allergy to Fanapt or its ingredients.
• Children and teenagers younger than 18 years.

Also, while taking Fanapt, avoid drinking alcohol and do not breast-feed.