What Is Loxapine Used For?

Loxapine uses are primarily concerned with the treatment of schizophrenia in adults, one of the most confusing and disabling mental illnesses. It is believed to work by affecting dopamine levels in the brain. The drug is not approved for use in children. Loxapine is used for off-label reasons too on occasion, including the treatment of agitation, psychotic depression, and dementia.

Information on Loxapine

What Is Loxapine Used For? -- An Overview

Loxapine (Loxitane^®) is a prescription medicine known as a "typical antipsychotic" that has been licensed to treat schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is one of the most confusing and disabling mental illnesses. Although the causes of schizophrenia are not fully understood, it is currently thought that genetics and environmental factors play important roles. Depending on the type of schizophrenia (see Types of Schizophrenia), symptoms may include the following:

Hallucinations
Delusions
Thought disorders
Disorders of movement
Speaking infrequently, even when forced to interact
Flat affect (immobile facial expression, monotonous voice)
Lack of pleasure in everyday life
A diminished ability to initiate and sustain planned activity
Poor executive functioning (the ability to absorb and interpret information and make decisions based on that information)
An inability to stay focused
Problems with working memory (the ability to keep recently learned information in mind and use it right away).

Although psychotherapy may be helpful for schizophrenia (see Psychosocial Therapy for Schizophrenics), medication is often essential to successful schizophrenia treatment.

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