Chlorpromazine: Drug Information

Generic name: Chlorpromazine hcl

Brand Name: Largactil

Other names: Emetil, Megatil, Serectil, Sun Prazin

Drug Class: Phenothiazine, Antipsychotic

Uses of Chlorpromazine:

Chlorpromazine belongs to the class of antipsychotic drugs and is used to treat various mental illnesses such as aggression, atypical psychosis, mania, hypomania, panic induced anxiety, paranoia, schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia. In addition to this, it is also used to treat nausea and vomiting, restlessness prior to surgery, tetanus and mania.

Dosage:

This medicine is taken orally with or without food. Take in the exact dosage at equal intervals as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking it abruptly s it may worsen your present condition.

Contraindications:

Do not take this medicine in case you are hypersensitive to phenothiazines or other antipsychotic drugs.

Chlorpromazine should not be taken with other drugs that can cause sedation.

This medicine should not be taken if you are suffering from Parkinsonism, epilepsy, narrow angle glaucoma or myasthenia gravis.

This medicine should not be used in case the patient is unconscious.

Warnings and Precautions:

Caution is advised while administering the drug to patients with cardiovascular disease.

Tell your doctor in case you are pregnant or lactating before taking Chlorpromazine.

Caution and regular drug monitoring is advised when administering the medicine to the elderly.

Interactions:

Intake of Chlorpromazine accentuates anticholinergic effects of Antiparkinson agents and tricyclic antidepressants which may result in an anticholinergic crisis.

Chlorpromazine should not be taken along with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Chlorpromazine is known to reverse the antihypertensive effect of guanethidine, methyldopa and clonidine.

Intake of Chlorpromazine is prohibited with this medicine.

Side effects of Chlorpromazine:

The most common side effects of the medication include tardive dyskinesia, a disorder characterized by rhythmic involuntary movements of tongue, face, mouth or jaw, constipation, dry mouth, insomnia, tachycardia, EECG changes, urinary retention, amenorrhea, agitation, depression, gynaecomastia, weight gain, raised serum cholesterol, postural hypotension, hyperglycemia, convulsions and allergic reactions of the skin.

Elderly patients who are frail and susceptible to recurrent medical illness can develop agranulocytosis. Death associated with ventricular tachyarrhythmia can also occur.

MNS (malignant neuroleptic syndrome): This is characterized by high fever, clouding of consciousness, alkinesia and mutism.