Tindal (Acetophenazine)Medication Abuse & Addiction Risks

Tindal (acetophenazine) is a typical antipsychotic or first-generation antipsychotic.It is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant prescribed to reduce hyperactivity in the brain.

Like other first-generation antipsychotics, acetophenazine helps people get relief from psychotic and disorganized thinking.

Because it produces relaxing and calming effects (similar to benzodiazepines), acetophenazine comes with abuse potential and addiction risks.

Abusing acetophenazine could complicate or even halt mental health recovery, requiring dual diagnosis treatment for mental illness and a substance use disorder.

Acetophenazine is an antipsychotic drug in the phenothiazine class that treats hallucinations and delusions in people with mental conditions with psychosis.

As an FDA-approved medication, taking acetophenazine can produce a calming effect in addition to relieving the symptoms of psychosis.

There are a few situations that can lead someone to abuse acetophenazine:

• Tolerance: This can develop after taking the medication for some time, leading someone to take more.
• Medication not working: If the medication doesn’t work at first, someone may take more without consulting a doctor.
• Calming effects: Someone taking acetophenazine can fall into abuse because its calming effect can be intensified with higher doses.

Unlike second-generation or atypical antipsychotics, which interact with dopamine and serotonin, first-generation antipsychotics primarily interact with dopamine.

Acetophenazine maleate works by blocking the dopamine 2 receptor, reducing the amount of dopamine in the brain. This is different from how antidepressants work, which interact with serotonin.

The result is that the chemical compounds in acetophenazine, such as 2-hydroxyethyl and 10H-phenothiazin-2-yl, produce a calming effect.

In most people who take acetophenazine, this is an effect they can’t produce themselves, which is why sometimes they take more of the drug than prescribed to intensify the effect.

Anyone can be at risk of abusing acetophenazine, but typically, it is those who have access to the medication who are most at risk.

This includes people who have access to a loved one’s medication, the means to buy it illegally, or who are prescribed it for a mental health condition.

Doctors can prescribe acetophenazine for the following conditions in patients:

• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective disorder
• Disorganized thinking
• Hallucinations
• Delusions

Prescription medication abuse has signs and symptoms that can be similar to illicit drug use. As people engage more and more in drug abuse, their behavior changes as a result.

Behavioral signs and symptoms of acetophenazine abuse include:

• Doctor shopping to get more prescriptions of the medication
• Forging or stealing prescriptions
• Mood swings
• Sleeping more
• Acting drowsy
• Asking for early refills

Taking more acetophenazine than prescribed can have medical side effects as well as behavioral ones. Medical side effects can be dangerous and can even lead to an overdose.

Side effects of acetophenazine abuse include:

• Dry eyes
• Photosensitivity
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Sedation
• Urine retention

Taking too much acetophenazine carries an overdose risk that can include harmful side effects and can even potentially be fatal.

Signs of an acetophenazine overdose can include:

• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• Hypothermia
• Small pupils
• Irregular heart rhythm
• Involuntary muscle contraction
• Involuntary muscle movements

Treatment for an acetophenazine overdose can involve a few different steps to remove acetophenazine from the stomach and treat the symptoms of overdose. This includes:

• Induced vomiting
• Gastric lavage (stomach pumping)
• IV diphenhydramine
• IV hydration

If you are facing a mental health condition and abusing acetophenazine (which was prescribed for your condition), you can find treatment.

Dual diagnosis treatment addresses both mental health and substance use disorders at the same time. This enables patients to manage both disorders through therapy and medication.

One of the difficulties of recovering from acetophenazine abuse is that the medication was initially prescribed to treat a mental health condition.

However, if treatment requires you to taper off acetophenazine, there are alternative medications that your doctor could prescribe.

Alternatives to acetophenazine may include:

• Chlorpromazine
• Haloperidol
• Chlorprothixene (for less severe cases)
• Clozapine (for more severe cases)
• Fluphenazine
• Loxapine
• Mesoridazine
• Trifluoperazine
• Triflupromazine

Mental health and addiction treatment is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Everyone has different needs, which is why dual diagnosis treatment can occur at multiple levels of care.

Dual diagnosis treatment programs include:

• Detox: Includes symptomatic support and medical monitoring for acetophenazine withdrawal.
• Inpatient treatment: Includes hospitalization and residential treatment. Both levels of care include care through psychiatry and therapy.
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP): Is the most intensive level of outpatient care, similar to inpatient treatment but you can live at home.
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP): Steps you down from a PHP. An IOP still includes therapy, support groups, and medication management.
• Outpatient program (OP): An OP is the last step in a continuum of care and acts as a transition back to daily life.

Treatment doesn’t always start at the same level of care. Where you start depends on how severe your condition is.

Dual diagnosis treatment for acetophenazine abuse and schizophrenia or other mental health conditions incorporates different therapies.

These therapies can be applied to a variety of conditions and include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps people build healthy thought patterns to replace unhealthy ones.
• Individual therapy: Is a time for you to talk about difficult issues with a therapist in a confidential setting.
• Family therapy: Helps loved ones and family members resolve issues and heal together.
• Group therapy: Is a therapist-guided time that helps people become a resource for each other.
• Art therapy: Is not evidence-based, but it helps people express emotions and process traumatic events in healthy ways.

Managing mental illness and addiction recovery is an ongoing process. Studies have shown that having continuing care options can improve the impact of recovery.

That’s why continuing care options are crucial to success. Continuing care options for addiction and mental health conditions include:

• Medication management: Addresses side effects, dosage, and how well the medication is working.
• Relapse prevention: Includes ongoing sessions with a therapist to maintain sobriety and mental health guidance
• Support groups: Can provide a lasting and ongoing benefit in managing mental health.

If you are facing acetophenazine abuse and a mental health condition like schizophrenia, you can find treatment options at a dual diagnosis facility near you.

Getting quality treatment for co-occurring disorders can help you find relief as you take back control of your life. Start your recovery today. Reach out to PsyWeb to learn about top-reviewed treatment centers in your area.