Flunarizine
Flunarizine is a calcium channel blocker taken daily to prevent migraine attacks and ease vertigo, sold here as Sibelium in 5mg and 10mg tablets.
What flunarizine is taken for
Two problems bring people to flunarizine: migraine that keeps returning, and vertigo, the spinning or unsteadiness that starts in the balance organs of the inner ear. It is a preventive, not a painkiller. You do not reach for it once an attack has begun; you take it every day so that attacks come less often and hit less hard. That pattern shows up over weeks.
How flunarizine works
Calcium carries signals into nerve cells and into the muscle inside blood vessel walls. Flunarizine blocks part of that traffic. With less calcium moving, overactive nerve signalling calms down and vessels tighten less readily — the two things behind a migraine attack. One tablet does nothing you can feel. Steady daily use is what counts, and that is why the medicine is judged over weeks rather than days.
Taking flunarizine tablets
One tablet in the evening is the usual routine. Adults generally take 10mg; the 5mg strength is there for when a smaller daily dose is enough, often because the higher one left someone too sleepy. Swallow it with water at roughly the same time each evening. Keep the pack somewhere dry, out of direct sunlight.
What side effects to expect
Expect to feel sleepy at first. That is the effect nearly everyone notices in the early days, and it is why the evening dose suits so many people. A dry mouth, aching muscles and a growing appetite are also common, and appetite is what pushes weight up for some over months of use. A queasy stomach turns up now and then. Most of this eases as the weeks pass.
Longer-term use is linked with movement effects such as tremor, stiff or slow movement and a restless urge to keep moving, and with low mood, especially in older people. They usually ease once the medicine is stopped. Anyone with a history of depression avoids flunarizine, and alcohol or other sedating medicines sharpen the drowsiness.
Sibelium, the flunarizine tablet in the shop
Sibelium is the brand name flunarizine is sold under, and the Sibelium listing carries it as 5mg and 10mg tablets. Both strengths are there because daily doses differ: 10mg suits many adults, while 5mg is the step down for anyone who finds that too sedating. Tablets labelled simply Flunarizine hold the same active ingredient. You will find it filed with other migraine preventers and nervous-system medicines under neurology.
Sources
- Migraine Headache Prophylaxis | AFP — American Academy of Family Physicians
- Migraine | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Can I order Flunarizine online in Hong Kong?
Flunarizine can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range covers generic Sibelium, 5mg and 10mg tablets also sold as Flunarizine tablets. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted page, or by Bitcoin or Ethereum.
How much does Flunarizine cost?
It depends on the product, strength and pack size. The flunarizine product listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Flunarizine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order flunarizine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for flunarizine?
Sibelium is a brand name of flunarizine. Here, flunarizine can be bought online as generic Sibelium. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does flunarizine take to work?
Give it several weeks. Flunarizine works by preventing attacks rather than stopping one that has already started, so there is no effect to notice after a single tablet. What you are watching for is a drop in how often attacks come and how severe they feel over that stretch.
Does flunarizine help with vertigo?
It does. Flunarizine is used for vertigo as well as for migraine prevention, vertigo meaning the spinning or unsteadiness that comes from the inner ear's balance system. It is taken every day with the aim of making dizzy spells less frequent, so it will not settle a spell that is already happening.
Can I drink alcohol with flunarizine?
Alcohol and flunarizine both cause drowsiness, so even one or two drinks can leave you sleepier and slower than usual. It is worst in the first weeks, before you know how the tablets affect you. Sleeping tablets and other sedating medicines add to it in the same way.
Does flunarizine cause weight gain?
Weight gain is one of the common effects of flunarizine and it follows a bigger appetite. It tends to creep up over the first few months rather than in the first week or two, and it is a frequent reason people decide to stop. Portion sizes and regular activity help to keep it in check.
Is Sibelium the same as flunarizine?
Yes. Sibelium is a brand name for flunarizine, so both names describe the same tablet. Packs sold under the ingredient name and packs sold as Sibelium contain flunarizine 5mg or 10mg, and the listing here is Sibelium in those two strengths.