Chlorpromazine
Description
Chlorpromazine is an antipsychotic medicine that is used to relieve nausea and vomiting and also controls the symptoms of Schizophrenia. This medicine should be started at low doses and increased gradually. Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without informing the doctor as it may cause withdrawal symptoms.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Chlorpromazine
- Uncontrolled body movements
- Restlessness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Skin rash
- Hypoglycemia
- Difficulty in breathing
- Muscle stiffness
Uses of Chlorpromazine
What is it prescribed for?
- Schizophrenia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Preoperative sedation
- Intractable Hiccups
- Porphyria
- Tetanus
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of this medicine can be observed in 30 to 60 minutes.
- Duration of effectThe effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 4 to 6 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Consumption of alcohol with this medicine is not recommended as it can result in dizziness and difficulty in concentration. Avoid activities that need mental alertness like driving and operating machinery.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women.
Allergy
Not recommended in patients with known allergy to Chlorpromazine or phenothiazines.
Severe central nervous system depression
Not recommended in patients with central nervous system depression disorders.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women.
General warnings
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Chlorpromazine should be discontinued immediately if the patient develops Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome characterized by an increase in the body temperature, muscle rigidity, altered consciousness.
Tardive dyskinesia
Chlorpromazine may cause involuntary movements of tongue, lips, and face. Inform the doctor if you have these symptoms. The dose should be reduced or the medicine discontinued if the symptoms worsen.
Diabetes and Dyslipidemia
Chlorpromazine may increase the blood glucose levels in the body. Assess these parameters before initiation of the treatment. Also, regular monitoring of blood glucose and body weight is necessary.
Blood cells count
Chlorpromazine may reduce the blood cell count, especially WBC (neutrophils). Any symptoms of fever, weakness during the treatment should be reported to the doctor. The dose should be reduced or the medicine discontinued if the symptoms worsen.
Pediatric use
The safety and efficacy of Chlorpromazine is not established in the children less than 6 months of age.
Discontinuation syndrome
Do not stop taking this medicine abruptly as it may cause withdrawal symptoms like nausea, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, and irritability. The dose should be reduced gradually based on the patient's response under the doctor's supervision.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Concurrent use of ethanol and phenothiazines may result in additive CNS depression and psychomotor impairment
Instructions
Consumption of alcohol with this medicine is not recommended as it can result in dizziness and difficulty in concentration. Avoid activities that need mental alertness like driving and operating machinery.
Interaction with Medicine
Antidiabetic medicines
Opioids
Antihypertensives
Levodopa
Disease interactions
Dementia
This medicine is not recommended in the patients with dementia-related psychosis as it increases the risk of heart diseases like heart failure and infectious diseases like pneumonia. An alternate medicine should be considered based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Chlorpromazine as instructed by the doctor. Do not take in larger amounts than prescribed. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Do not stop taking the medicine without consulting your doctor as it may cause withdrawal symptoms.
Miscelleneous
How it works
It works by binding to the receptors and inhibits the release of the chemical substances that cause psychotic symptoms.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Phenothiazine antipsychotics
Schedule
Schedule H
Chlorpromazine - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 8 June 2017]. Available from:
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 8 June 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - Chlorpromazine hydrochloride tablet, sugar coated [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 8 June 2017]. Available from:
[Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 8 June 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 8 June 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 8 Jan 2018
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.