Chlorpromazine

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (klor proe' ma zeen)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Chlorpromazine is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions) and other psychotic disorders (conditions that cause difficulty telling the difference between things or ideas that are real and things or ideas that are not real) and to treat the symptoms of mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood) in people who have bipolar disorder (manic depressive disorder; a condition that causes episodes of mania, episodes of depression, and other abnormal moods). Chlorpromazine is also used to treat severe behavior problems such as explosive, aggressive behavior and hyperactivity in children 1 to 12 years of age. Chlorpromazine is also used to control nausea and vomiting, to relieve hiccups that have lasted one month or longer, and to relieve restlessness and nervousness that may occur just before surgery. Chlorpromazine is also used to treat acute intermittent porphyria (condition in which certain natural substances build up in the body and cause stomach pain, changes in thinking and behavior, and other symptoms). Chlorpromazine is also used along with other medications to treat tetanus (a serious infection that may cause tightening of the muscles, especially the jaw muscle). Chlorpromazine is in a class of medications called conventional antipsychotics. It works by changing the activity of certain natural substances in the brain and other parts of the body.


How should this medicine be used?

Chlorpromazine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Chlorpromazine is usually taken two to four times a day. When chlorpromazine is used to control nausea and vomiting, it is usually taken every 4-6 hours as needed. When chlorpromazine is used to relieve nervousness before surgery, it is usually taken 2-3 hours before surgery. When chlorpromazine is used to relieve hiccups, it is usually taken 3-4 times a day for up to 3 days or until the hiccups stop. If the hiccups do not stop after 3 days of treatment, a different medication should be used. If you are taking chlorpromazine on a regular schedule, take it at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take chlorpromazine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of chlorpromazine and gradually increase your dose. Your doctor may decrease your dose once your condition is controlled. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with chlorpromazine.

If you are taking chlorpromazine to treat schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder, chlorpromazine may control your symptoms but will not cure your condition. Continue to take chlorpromazine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking chlorpromazine without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking chlorpromazine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, and shakiness.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking chlorpromazine,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to chlorpromazine; other phenothiazines such as fluphenazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine; or any other medications.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin); antidepressants; antihistamines; atropine (in Motofen, in Lomotil, in Lonox); barbiturates such as pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital (Luminal), and secobarbital (Seconal); cancer chemotherapy; diuretics (water pills); epinephrine (Epipen); guanethidine (not available in the US); ipratropium (Atrovent); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); medications for anxiety, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, ulcers, or urinary problems; medications for seizures such as phenytoin (Dilantin); narcotic medications for pain; propranolol (Inderal); sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma; emphysema (a lung disease that causes shortness of breath); an infection in your lungs or bronchial tubes (tubes that bring air to the lungs); glaucoma (condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to gradual loss of vision); breast cancer; pheochromocytoma (tumor on a small gland near the kidneys); seizures; an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG; test that records electrical activity in the brain); any condition that affects the production of blood cells by your bone marrow; or heart, liver, or kidney disease. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had to stop taking a medication for mental illness due to severe side effects or if you plan to work with organophosphorus insecticides (a type of chemical used to kill insects).
  • if you will be using chlorpromazine to treat nausea and vomiting, it is important to tell your doctor about any other symptoms you are experiencing, especially listlessness; drowsiness; confusion; aggression; seizures; headaches; problems with vision, hearing, speech, or balance; stomach pain or cramps; or constipation. Nausea and vomiting that is experienced along with these symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition that should not be treated with chlorpromazine.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, especially if you are in the last few months of your pregnancy, or if you plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking chlorpromazine, call your doctor. Chlorpromazine may cause problems in newborns following delivery if it is taken during the last months of pregnancy.
  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking chlorpromazine.
  • if you are having a myelogram (x-ray examination of the spine), tell your doctor and the radiographer that you are taking chlorpromazine. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take chlorpromazine for 2 days before the myelogram and for one day after the myelogram.
  • you should know that this medication may make you drowsy and may affect your thinking and movements. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
  • ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol during your treatment with chlorpromazine. Alcohol can make the side effects of chlorpromazine worse.
  • plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Chlorpromazine may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
  • you should know that chlorpromazine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, fast heartbeat, and fainting, especially when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is most common at the beginning of treatment with chlorpromazine, especially after the first dose. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
  • you should know that chlorpromazine may make it harder for your body to cool down when it gets very hot. Tell your doctor if you plan to do vigorous exercise or be exposed to extreme heat.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Chlorpromazine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • drowsiness
  • blank facial expression
  • shuffling walk
  • restlessness
  • agitation
  • nervousness
  • unusual, slowed, or uncontrollable movements of any part of the body
  • difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
  • increased appetite
  • weight gain
  • breast milk production
  • breast enlargement
  • missed menstrual periods
  • decreased sexual ability
  • changes in skin color
  • dry mouth
  • stuffed nose
  • difficulty urinating
  • widening or narrowing of the pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes)
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
  • fever
  • muscle stiffness
  • confusion
  • fast or irregular heartbeat
  • sweating
  • yellowing of the skin or eyes
  • flu-like symptoms
  • sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection
  • unusual bleeding or bruising
  • neck cramps
  • tongue that sticks out of the mouth
  • tightness in the throat
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • fine, worm-like tongue movements
  • uncontrollable, rhythmic face, mouth, or jaw movements
  • seizures
  • blisters
  • rash
  • hives
  • itching
  • swelling of the eyes, face, mouth, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  • vision loss, especially at night
  • seeing everything with a brown tint

Chlorpromazine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.


Drug Category/Class

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Antiemetics
  • Phenothiazines
  • Phenothiazines With Aliphatic Side-Chain
  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Psycholeptics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inducers
  • CYP2E1 Inhibitors
  • CYP2E1 Inducers
  • CYP2E1 Inducers (strong)
  • BSEP
  • ABCB11 Inhibitors
  • Nervous System
  • CYP2D6 Inducers
  • CYP2D6 Inducers (strong)
Prescribed For the treatment of schizophrenia, control nausea and vomiting, For relief of restlessness and apprehension before surgery, adjunct in the treatme...
Weight :318.864
Structure Chlorpromazine
Generic Drug Chlorpromazine prescribed For the treatment of schizophrenia, control nausea and vomiting, For relief of restlessness and apprehension before surgery, adjunct in the treatme...
Formula

C17H19ClN2S

Chlorpromazine has 66 Brands listed


Cain (100 mg)Cain (25 mg)
Cain (50 mg)Chlorpro (100 mg)
Chlorpro (50 mg)Chlorpromazine (10 mg)
Chlorpromazine (100 mg)Chlorpromazine (200 mg)
Chlorpromazine (25 mg)Chlorpromazine (25 mg)
Chlorpromazine (50 mg)Chlorpromazine (50 mg) (Abbott)
Chlorpromazine Hcl (50 mg)Chlorpromazine inj (25 mg)
Chlorpromazine Tab (100 mg)Chlorpromazine Tab (50 mg)
Clozine (100 mg)Clozine (100 mg) (Psychotropics)
Clozine (200 mg)Clozine (200 mg) (Psychotropics)
Clozine (50 mg)Clozine (50 mg) (Psychotropics)
Elrectil (100 mg)Elrectil (200 mg)
Elrectil (25 mg)Elrectil (50 mg)
Emetil (100 mg)Emetil (200 mg)
Emetil (25 mg)Emetil (50 mg)
Hemarzin (50 mg)Karzine (100 mg)
Karzine (25 mg)Karzine (50 mg)
Karzine FC (100 mg)Karzine FC (50 mg)
Megatil (100 mg)Megatil (200 mg)
Megatil (25 mg)Megatil (50 mg)
Megatil Inj (50 mg)Monochlor (10 mg)
Ostil (100 mg)Ostil (25 mg)
Ostil (5 mg)Ostil (50 mg)
Prom (100 mg)Prom (200 mg)
Relitil (100 mg)Relitil (25 mg)
Relitil (50 mg)Relitil Inj (50 mg)
Schizotil (100 mg)Schizotil (25 mg)
Schizotil (50 mg)Serectil (100 mg)
Serectil (50 mg)Sun Prazin (100 mg)
Sun Prazin (200 mg)Sun Prazin (25 mg)
Sun Prazin (50 mg)Tranchlor (100 mg)
Tranchlor (200 mg)Tranchlor (25 mg)
Tranchlor (50 mg)Trytil (25 mg)

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