• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is chlorpromazine?
Chlorpromazine is in a class of drugs called phenothiazines. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in your brain. Chlorpromazine is used to treat psychotic disorders, nausea and vomiting, chronic hiccups, and acute intermittent porphyria. Chlorpromazine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Back to Top

What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

Back to Top

What are the possible side effects of chlorpromazine?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking chlorpromazine and seek emergency medical treatment:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• uncontrollable movements of the tongue, face, lips, arms, or legs;

• muscle spasms of the face or neck;

• severe restlessness or tremor;

• severe drowsiness or fainting;

• a rash; or

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take chlorpromazine and talk to your doctor if you experience:

• decreased sweating;

• dry mouth or stuffy nose

• constipation;

• blurred vision

• mild restlessness, drowsiness, or tremor;

• difficult urination or dark urine;

• decreased sex drive;

• dizziness;

• increased appetite; or

• menstrual irregularities or swollen breasts.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Back to Top

How should I take chlorpromazine?
Take chlorpromazine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Chlorpromazine can be taken with or without food or milk. Do not crush or chew the sustained-release formulations of chlorpromazine. Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to release slowly in your body. If you do not know if your medication is a sustained-release formulation, ask your pharmacist.

Back to Top

What is the most important information I should know about chlorpromazine?
Call your doctor immediately if you have uncontrollable movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, arms, or legs. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Chlorpromazine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall. Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking chlorpromazine.

Back to Top

What happens if I miss a dose?
If you take one dose of chlorpromazine a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then go back to your regular schedule the next day. If you do not remember until it is time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication. If you are taking chlorpromazine on a regular schedule several times a day, take the missed dose within 1 hour of its regular time. If more than 1 hour has passed, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Back to Top

What other drugs will affect chlorpromazine?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs: antacids. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking a dose of chlorpromazine. They will decrease the effectiveness of chlorpromazine. alcohol; over-the-counter cough, cold, or allergy medications; sleep aids; antidepressants; muscle relaxants; barbiturates; and seizure medications. All of these medications will increase the side of effects of chlorpromazine-- especially drowsiness and dizziness.

Back to Top

Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Chlorpromazine has not been formally assigned to a pregnancy category by the FDA. The drug has been frequently used in all stages of pregnancy for treatment of nausea and vomiting. Studies of a possible teratogenic effect have been conflicting. Use during labor is occasionally associated with hypotension which can be dangerous to both mother and fetus. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Chlorpromazine should probably be avoided during labor. It should otherwise be given during pregnancy only when benefit outweighs risk.

Chlorpromazine is excreted into human milk in small amounts. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes chlorpromazine as a drug "whose effect on nursing infants is unknown but may be of concern". The Academy also notes drowsiness and lethargy in the infant and galactorrhea in the adult as reasons for concern.

Back to Top

Who should NOT use this medication?

• Comatose states or in the presence of large amounts of CNS depressants (e.g., alcohol, barbiturates, opiates). (See Specific Drugs and Laboratory Tests under Interactions.)
• Known hypersensitivity to phenothiazines.

Back to Top

What does my medication look like?
Chlorpromazine is available with a prescription under the brand name Thorazine. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Thorazine 10 mg--round, brown, film-coated tablets Thorazine 25 mg--round, brown, film-coated tablets Thorazine 50 mg--round, brown, film-coated tablets Thorazine 100 mg--round, brown, film-coated tablets Thorazine 200 mg--round, brown, film-coated tablets

Back to Top

What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a chlorpromazine overdose include uncontrollable movements, agitation, seizures, severe dizziness or fainting, coma, very deep sleep, irregular heartbeats, and high or low body temperature.

Back to Top

Who should not take chlorpromazine?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have a bone marrow disease, glaucoma, seizures, Parkinson's disease, an enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating, liver disease, or kidney disease. You may not be able to take chlorpromazine, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring if you have any of the conditions listed above. It is not known whether chlorpromazine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take chlorpromazine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

Back to Top

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

Back to Top

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

Back to Top

Where can I get more information?
More Information

Back to Top