The drug has been developed in the 1960s for the treatment of patients with anxiety and the symptomatic management of psychosis in patients with schizophrenia. The active principle fluphenazine displays antipsychotic properties associated with a non-selective binding to presynaptic dopaminergic receptors. The drug can block the action of amphetamine and thus the release of dopamine. It is a fluorinated phenothiazine derivative equipped with a propylpiperazine side chain. Fluphenazine dichlorhydrate (Moditen®) represented the orally active form of the drug. In addition, there was also a long-acting intramuscular form (Modecate®) containing fluphenazine decanoate, used to treat acute symptoms. These two first-generation antipsychotic agents are rarely used today, replaced with more selective drugs. Nevertheless, fluphenazine remains of a potential interest to treat other pathologies. In recent years, a repositioning of fluphenazine to improve treatment of breast cancer has been suggested.
The advertising underlined the benefit of Moditen® as an anxiolytic drug well adapted to active people
