Fupentixol dihydrochloride
[CAS# 2413-38-9]

Identification

• Classification: API >> Nervous system medication >> Antipsychotic
• Name: Fupentixol dihydrochloride
• Synonyms: (Z)-4-[3-[2-(Trifluoromethyl)-9H-thioxanthen-9-ylidene]propyl]piperazine-1-ethanol dihydrochloride
• Molecular Formula: C₂₃H₂₅F₃N₂OS.2(HCl)
• Molecular Weight: 507.44
• CAS Registry Number: 2413-38-9
• EC Number: 219-321-4
• SMILES: C1CN(CCN1CC/C=C2/C3=CC=CC=C3SC4=C2C=C(C=C4)C(F)(F)F)CCO.Cl.Cl

Properties

• Water solubility: soluble

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS07 Warning
• Risk Statements: H302
• Safety Statements: P264-P270-P301+P317-P330-P501

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H302
Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure	STOT SE	3	H335
Skin irritation	Skin Irrit.	2	H315
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2	H319
Respiratory sensitization	Resp. Sens.	1	H334
Reproductive toxicity	Repr.	2	H361
Skin sensitization	Skin Sens.	1	H317
Skin sensitization	Skin Sens.	1B	H317
Reproductive toxicity	Lact.	-	H362

• Transport Information: UN 2811

Discovery and Applications

Furoxol hydrochloride, also known as Depixol and Fluanxol, is a psychotropic drug used primarily to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Furoxol was discovered and developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck in the mid-1960s. It was originally synthesized as part of an effort to create a new class of antipsychotic drugs that would have better efficacy and fewer side effects than existing treatments.

Furoxol hydrochloride consists of a tricyclic structure in which two benzene rings are fused to a thiophene ring and substituted with a piperidinecarboxamide moiety. Furoxol exerts its therapeutic effects primarily by antagonizing dopamine receptors in the brain, specifically the dopamine D₂ receptors. By blocking these receptors, it helps normalize dopamine signaling pathways, which are believed to be disrupted in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. This action is critical in alleviating symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

Furoxol hydrochloride is primarily used to treat schizophrenia. It is effective in reducing both positive symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions) and negative symptoms (such as social withdrawal and blunted affect) associated with this chronic mental illness.

In addition to schizophrenia, furopithol is used to treat other psychotic disorders, including schizoaffective disorder and psychotic depression. Its efficacy in these conditions stems from its broad-spectrum antagonism of dopamine receptors.

Furopithol is usually taken orally or intramuscularly. The choice of route of administration depends on the severity of symptoms, the patient's response, and clinical judgment regarding rapid symptom control.

Common side effects of furopithol hydrochloride include sedation, dizziness, weight gain, and extrapyramidal symptoms (such as tremor and muscle rigidity). Long-term use may also carry a risk of tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder characterized by involuntary repetitive movements.

References

2023. The D1/D2-like receptor antagonist flupentixol and the D2-like receptor antagonist L-741626 decrease operant responding for nicotine and food and locomotor activity in male and female rats. *Journal of Psychopharmacology*, 37(1).
DOI: 10.1177/02698811221147141

2022. The management challenges of a case with Flupentixol-induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome. *Neuropsychopharmacology Reports*, 42(4).
DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12315

1975. Stereoselective blockade of the dopamine receptor and the x-ray structures of alpha and beta-flupenthixol. *Nature*, 256(5515).
DOI: 10.1038/256342a0