Flunarizine

Flunarizine, sold under the brand name Sibelium among others, is a drug classified as a calcium antagonist which is used for various indications.[1] It is not available by prescription in the United States or Japan. The drug was discovered at Janssen Pharmaceutica (R14950) in 1968.

Flunarizine
Clinical data
Trade namesSibelium, others
Other names1-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-4-cinnamyl-piperazine
AHFS/Drugs.comMicromedex Detailed Consumer Information
Pregnancy
category
  • C
Routes of
administration		By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Protein binding>99%
MetabolismMainly CYP2D6
Metabolites≥15
Elimination half-life5–15 hrs (single dose)
18–19 days (multiple doses)
ExcretionFeces, <1% urine
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.052.652
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC26H26F2N2
Molar mass404.495 g/mol g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point251.5 °C (484.7 °F) (dihydrochloride)
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Medical uses

Flunarizine is effective in the prophylaxis of migraine,[2] occlusive peripheral vascular disease, vertigo of central and peripheral origin,[3] and as an adjuvant in the therapy of epilepsy. It has been shown to significantly reduce headache frequency and severity in both adults and children.

Contraindications

Flunarizine is contraindicated in patients with depression, in the acute phase of a stroke, and in patients with extrapyramidal symptoms or Parkinson's disease.[4] It is also contraindicated in hypotension, heart failure and arrhythmia.

Side effects

Common side effects include drowsiness (20% of patients), weight gain (10%), as well as extrapyramidal effects and depression in elderly patients.[3]

Interactions

The effects of other sedating drugs and alcohol, as well as antihypertensives, can be increased. No relevant pharmacokinetic interactions have been described.[3][4]

Pharmacology

Mechanism of action

Flunarizine is a selective calcium antagonist with moderate other actions including antihistamine, serotonin receptor blocking and dopamine D2 blocking activity. Compared to other calcium channel blockers such as dihydropyridine derivatives, verapamil and diltiazem, flunarizine has low affinity to voltage-dependent calcium channels. It has been theorised that it may act not by inhibiting calcium entry into cells, but rather by an intracellular mechanism such as antagonising calmodulin, a calcium binding protein.[3]

Pharmacokinetics

Flunarizine is well absorbed (>80%) from the gut and reaches maximal blood plasma concentrations after two to four hours, with more than 99% of the substance bound to plasma proteins. It readily passes the blood–brain barrier. When given daily, a steady state is reached after five to eight weeks. Concentrations in the brain are about ten times higher than in the plasma.[3][4]

The substance is metabolised in the liver, mainly by the enzyme CYP2D6. At least 15 different metabolites are described, including (in animals) N-desalkyl and hydroxy derivatives and glucuronides. Less than 1% is excreted in unchanged form, and the main excretion path is via bile and faeces. Elimination half life varies widely between individuals and is about 5 to 15 hours after a single dose, and 18 to 19 days on average when given daily.[3][4]

Chemistry

Flunarizine is a diphenylmethylpiperazine derivative related to the antihistamine hydroxyzine.

Research

Flunarizine may help to reduce the severity and duration of attacks of paralysis associated with the more serious form of alternating hemiplegia, as well as being effective in rapid onset dystonia-parkinsonism (RDP). Both these conditions arise from specific mutations in the ATP1A3 gene.[5][6]

Flunarizine extended motor neuron survival in spinal cord, protected skeletal muscles from cell death and atrophy and extended survival by 40% in an animal model of spinal muscular atrophy.[7]

References
  1. Fagbemi, O; Kane, KA; McDonald, FM; Parratt, JR; Rothaul, AL (1984). "The effects of verapamil, prenylamine, flunarizine and cinnarizine on coronary artery occlusion-induced arrhythmias in anaesthetized rats". British Journal of Pharmacology. 83 (1): 299–304. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.1984.tb10146.x. PMC 1987188. PMID 6487894.
  2. Amery, WK (1983). "Flunarizine, a calcium channel blocker: A new prophylactic drug in migraine". Headache. 23 (2): 70–4. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.1983.hed2302070.x. PMID 6343298.
  3. Dinnendahl, V; Fricke, U, eds. (2012). "Arzneistoff-Profile" (in German). 2 (26 ed.). Eschborn, Germany: Govi Pharmazeutischer Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7741-9846-3. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Haberfeld, H, ed. (2015). Austria-Codex (in German). Vienna: Österreichischer Apothekerverlag.
  5. Brashear, A; et al. (1993). "ATP1A3-Related Neurologic Disorders". PMID 20301294. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. Kansagra, S; Mikati, MA; Vigevano, F (2013). "Alternating hemiplegia of childhood". Handbook of clinical neurology. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. 112: 821–6. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-52910-7.00001-5. ISBN 9780444529107. PMID 23622289.
  7. Sapaly, Delphine; Dos Santos, Matthieu; Delers, Perrine; Biondi, Olivier; Quérol, Gwendoline; Houdebine, Léo; Khoobarry, Kevinee; Girardet, François; Burlet, Philippe; Armand, Anne-Sophie; Chanoine, Christophe; Bureau, Jean-François; Charbonnier, Frédéric; Lefebvre, Suzie (2018). "Small-molecule flunarizine increases SMN protein in nuclear Cajal bodies and motor function in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy". Scientific Reports. 8. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-20219-1. PMC 5794986.
  • Therapeutic Choices, sixth edition, Canadian Pharmacists Association, 2011.
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