• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is trifluoperazine?
Trifluoperazine is in a class of drugs called phenothiazines. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain. Trifluoperazine is used to treat psychotic disorders and anxiety. Trifluoperazine 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 trifluoperazine?

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

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the 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; or

• a rash.

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

• decreased sweating;

• dry mouth or a stuffy nose;

• constipation;

• blurred vision;

• mild restlessness, drowsiness, or tremor;

• difficult urination, 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 trifluoperazine?
Take trifluoperazine 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. Trifluoperazine can be taken with or without food or milk. Mix the liquid with at least 2 ounces (60 mL) of water, tomato or fruit juice, milk, simple syrup, orange syrup, soda, coffee, tea, or a semisolid food such as pudding or soup just before taking it. Do not let the liquid touch the skin or clothing.

Back to Top

What is the most important information I should know about trifluoperazine?
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. Trifluoperazine 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 taking trifluoperazine.

Back to Top

What happens if I miss a dose?
If you take one dose of trifluoperazine 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 the next day, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose. If you are taking trifluoperazine 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.

Back to Top

What other drugs will affect trifluoperazine?
Trifluoperazine may interact with other drugs that cause drowsiness, including alcohol, antidepressants, antihistamines, pain relievers, anxiety medicines, seizure medicines, and muscle relaxants. Dangerous sedation, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur if trifluoperazine is taken with alcohol or any of these medications. Talk to your doctor before taking trifluoperazine in combination with alcohol or any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Trifluoperazine also interacts with medications other than the ones listed here. Before taking trifluoperazine, tell your doctor about all other prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are taking, including herbal products. During treatment, do not start taking any new drug without first talking to your doctor.

Back to Top

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

Trifluoperazine has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed evidence of fetotoxicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Trifluoperazine is only recommended for use during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and benefit outweighs risk.

Adverse effects including prolonged jaundice, extrapyramidal signs, hyperreflexia, and hyporeflexia have been reported in newborn infants whose mothers received phenothiazines. Chromosomal aberrations in spermatocytes and abnormal sperm have been demonstrated in rodents treated with certain neuroleptics.

There are no data on the excretion of trifluoperazine into human milk. However, there is evidence that phenothiazines in general are excreted into human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

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.)
• Bone marrow depression or blood dyscrasias.
• Liver damage.
• Known hypersensitivity to phenothiazines.

Back to Top

What does my medication look like?
Trifluoperazine is available with a prescription under the brand name Stelazine. 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. Stelazine 1 mg--round, blue, coated tablets Stelazine 2 mg--round, blue, coated tablets Stelazine 5 mg--round, blue, coated tablets Stelazine 10 mg--round, blue, coated tablets Stelazine Concentrate10 mg/ 1 mL--clear, yellow, banana-vanilla-flavored liquid

Back to Top

What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a trifluoperazine 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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking trifluoperazine?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have a bone marrow disease, glaucoma, seizures, Parkinson's disease, enlargement of the prostate or difficulty urinating, liver disease, or kidney disease. You may not be able to take trifluoperazine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. It is not known whether trifluoperazine will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take trifluoperazine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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