• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Interactions

What is thioridazine?
Thioridazine is in a class of drugs called phenothiazines. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain. Thioridazine is used to treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. Thioridazine is generally reserved for people who do not respond to other drugs or who cannot take other drugs due to side effects. Thioridazine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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What are the possible side effects of thioridazine?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking thioridazine and seek emergency medical treatment or contact your doctor immediately:

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

• uncontrollable movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, arms, or legs;

• fever;

• muscle rigidity;

• muscle spasms of the face or neck;

• sweating;

• irregular pulse;

• fast or irregular heartbeats.

• severe restlessness or tremor;

• severe drowsiness;

• blurred vision;

• dizziness or fainting; or

• a rash.

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

• dry mouth, stuffy nose;

• constipation;

• mild restlessness, drowsiness, or tremor;

• decreased sex drive;

• increased appetite;

• difficult urination or dark urine; 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.

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How should I take thioridazine?
Take thioridazine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Your doctor may want to monitor your heartbeats and obtain a blood sample before starting and periodically during treatment with thioridazine. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Thioridazine can be taken with or without food. Shake the suspension (Mellaril-S) well before using it. To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid forms of thioridazine with a dropper or a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

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What is the most important information I should know about thioridazine?
Do not take thioridazine if you have any of the following conditions or a history of these conditions: heart disease; an irregular heartbeat or a history of irregular heartbeats; a history of prolonged QT intervals; a family history of congenital long QT syndrome; or other heartbeat disturbances. These conditions may increase the risk of irregular heartbeats, heart attack, and death while taking thioridazine. Do not take thioridazine with any of the following drugs: psychiatric medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), and fluvoxamine (Luvox); or blood pressure medications such as pindolol (Visken) or propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA, others). Taken with any of these drugs, thioridazine may cause irregular heartbeats that could lead to death. This is not a complete list of drugs that may interact with thioridazine and cause heart problems. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

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What other drugs will affect thioridazine?
Do not take thioridazine with any of the following drugs: psychiatric medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), and fluvoxamine (Luvox); or blood pressure medications such as pindolol (Visken) or propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA, others). Taken with any of these drugs, thioridazine may cause irregular heartbeats that could lead to death. This is not a complete list of drugs that may interact with thioridazine and cause heart problems. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications.

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

Thioridazine has not been assigned to a pregnancy category. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Thioridazine is only recommended for use during pregnancy when the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

A study of twenty children whose mothers took thioridazine during pregnancy reported no abnormalities in the subsequent development of those children.

There are no data on the excretion of thioridazine into human milk.

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What does my medication look like?
Thioridazine is available with a prescription under the brand name Mellaril. 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. Mellaril 10 mg--round, chartreuse, coated tablets Mellaril 15 mg--round, pink, coated tablets Mellaril 25--round, light-tan, coated tablets Mellaril 50 mg--round, white, coated tablets Mellaril 100 mg--round, light-green, coated tablets Mellaril 150 mg--round, yellow, coated tablets

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

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking thioridazine?
Do not take thioridazine if you have any of the following conditions or a history of these conditions: heart disease; an irregular heartbeat or a history of irregular heartbeats; a history of prolonged QT intervals; a family history of congenital long QT syndrome; or other heartbeat disturbances. These conditions may increase the risk of irregular heartbeats, heart attack, and death while taking thioridazine. Do not take thioridazine with any of the following drugs: psychiatric medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), and fluvoxamine (Luvox); or blood pressure medications such as pindolol (Visken) or propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA, others). Taken with any of these drugs, thioridazine may cause irregular heartbeats that could lead to death. This is not a complete list of drugs that may interact with thioridazine and cause heart problems. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications.

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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.

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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.

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