Generic Thorazine for Psychotic disorders (Severe depression with Anxiety)

Type of Drug: Phenothiazine antipsychotic
Prescribed for: Psychotic disorders, moderate to severe depression with anxiety, control of agitation or aggressiveness in disturbed children, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, intractable pain, and senility. Chlorpromazine may also be used to relieve nausea, vomiting, hiccups, restlessness, and apprehension before surgery or other special therapy

General Information of Generic Thorazine

Chlorpromazine and the other medicines listed above are members of the phenothiazine group of drugs, which act upon a portion of the brain called the hypothalamus. They affect parts of the hypothalamus that control metabolism, body temperature, alertness, muscle tone, hormone balance, and vomiting and may be used to treat problems related to any of these functions. This drug is available in suppositories and liquid forms for those who have trouble swallowing tablets.

Generic Thorazine Cautions and Warnings

Chlorpromazine can depress the cough (gag) reflex. Some people who have taken it have accidentally choked to death because the cough reflex failed to protect them. Because of its effect in reducing vomiting, Chlorpromazine can obscure signs of toxicity due to overdose of other drugs or symptoms of disease. Do not take Chlorpromazine if you are allergic to it or any of the other phenothiazine drugs. Do not take it if you have very low blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, or any blood, liver, kidney, or heart disease. If you have glaucoma, epilepsy, ulcers, or difficulty passing urine, Chlorpromazine should be used with caution and under your doctor’s strict supervision. Avoid exposure to extreme heat, because this drug can upset your body’s normal temperature control mechanism.

Possible Side Effects

Most common: drowsiness, especially during the first or second week of therapy. If the drowsiness becomes troublesome, contact your doctor. Do not allow the liquid forms of this medicine to come in contact with your skin, because they are highly irritating.
Less common: changes in blood components including anemias, raised or lowered blood pressure, abnormal heart rates, heart attack, and faintness or dizziness.
Other: Chlorpromazine can cause jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin), usually within the first 2 to 4 weeks. The jaundice usually goes away when the drug is discontinued, but there have been cases when it did not. If you notice this effect, or if you develop symptoms such as fever and general feelings of ill health, contact your doctor immediately.

Phenothiazines can produce extra pyramidal effects, such as spasm of the neck muscles, rolling back of the eyes, convulsions, difficulty in swallowing, and symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. These effects seem very serious but usually disappear after the drug has been withdrawn; however, symptoms affecting the face, tongue, or jaw may persist for as long as several years, especially in older adults with a history of brain damage. If you experience extrapyramidal effects, contact your doctor immediately. Chlorpromazine may cause an unusual increase in psychotic symptoms or may cause paranoid reactions, tiredness, lethargy, restlessness, hyperactivity, confusion at night, bizarre dreams, inability to sleep, depression, and euphoria (feeling “high”). Other reactions are itching, swelling, unusual sensitivity to bright light, red skin or rash, stuffy nose, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, change in body temperature, loss of facial color, excessive salivation or perspiration, constipation, diarrhea, changes in urine and bowel habits, worsening of glaucoma, blurred vision, weakening of eyelid muscles, spasms in bronchial or other muscles, increased appetite, excessive thirst, and changes in the coloration of skin, particularly in areas exposed to the sun. There have been cases of breast enlargement, false-positive pregnancy tests, and changes in menstrual flow in females, and impotence and changes in sex drive in males.

Generic Thorazine Drug Interactions

Be cautious about taking Chlorpromazine with barbiturates, sleeping pills, narcotics or other tranquilizers, or any other medication that may produce a depressive effect; avoid alcoholic beverages for the same reason.
Aluminum antacids may interfere with the absorption of phenothiazine drugs into the bloodstream, reducing their effectiveness.
Chlorpromazine can reduce the effects of Bromocriptine and appetite suppressants.
Anticholinergic drugs can reduce the effectiveness of Chlorpromazine and increase the chance of drug side effects.
The blood-pressure-lowering effect of Guanethidine may be counteracted by phenothiazine drugs.
Taking Lithium together with a phenothiazine drug may lead to disorientation, loss of consciousness, or uncontrolled muscle movements.
Mixing Propranolol and a phenothiazine drug may lead to unusually low blood pressure.
Blood concentrations of tricyclic antidepressant drugs may increase if they are taken together with a phenothiazine drug. This can lead to antidepressant side effects.

Food Interactions

Take liquid Chlorpromazine with fruit juice or other liquids. You may also take it with food if it upsets your stomach.

Usual Dose

Adult: 30 to 1000 mg or more per day, individualized according to your disease and response.
Child (age 6 months and older): 0.25 mg per pound of body weight every 4 to 6 hours, up to 200 mg or more per day (by various routes, including rectal suppositories), depending on disease, age, and response to therapy.

Generic Thorazine Overdosage

Symptoms of overdosage are depression, extreme weakness, tiredness, lowered blood pressure, agitation, restlessness, uncontrolled muscle spasms, convulsions, fever, dry mouth, abnormal heart rhythms, and coma. The Victim should be taken to a hospital emergency room immediately. ALWAYS bring the medicine bottle.

Special Information

Gall your doctor at once if you develop sore throat, fever, rash, weakness, visual problems, tremors, muscle movements or twitching, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, or urine darkening. This medication may cause drowsiness. Use caution when driving or operating hazardous equipment, and avoid alcoholic beverages while taking the medicine. Chlorpromazine and other medicines listed above may also cause unusual sensitivity to the sun and can turn your urine reddish-brown to pink. If dizziness occurs, avoid rising quickly from a sitting or lying position and avoid climbing stairs. Use caution in hot weather, because this medicine may make you more prone to heat stroke. If you are using sustained-release capsules, do not chew them or break them: Swallow them whole. Liquid forms of Chlorpromazine and the other medicines listed above must be protected from light. Don’t take them out of the opaque bottle in which they are dispensed from the pharmacy. If you forget to take a dose of Chlorpromazine, take it as soon as you remember. If you are taking just 1 dose per day and miss a dose, skip the forgotten dose and continue your regular dose schedule the next day. If you take more than 1 dose per day, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.

Generic Thorazine Special Populations

Pregnancy/Breast-feeding Infants born to women taking this medication have experienced drug side effects (liver jaundice, nervous-system effects) immediately after birth. Check with your doctor about taking this medicine if you are, or might become, pregnant. This drug may pass into breast milk and affect a nursing infant. Consider alternative feeding methods if you must take Chlorpromazine. Seniors Older adults are more sensitive to the effects of this medication and usually require a lower dosage to achieve the desired results. Also, seniors are more likely to develop drug side effects, and some experts feel that they should be treated with 1/2 to 1/4 the usual adult dose.