Has your doctor prescribed a medication called Chlorpromazine for you or someone in your family? When that happens, it's normal for a lot of questions to come to mind, such as what this medication is, what it's used for, and whether it has any side effects. You may be a little scared about this medication. But don't worry, today we'll talk about it very simply, in a way that you can understand.
What exactly is Chlorpromazine?
Simply put, chlorpromazine is a medication used to treat several mental health conditions, most commonly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
This medication works by balancing the levels of a chemical called dopamine in the brain. This dopamine is an important substance that helps control our mood. When this is balanced, it helps greatly in controlling the symptoms of mental illness.
Not only that, but doctors may prescribe this medication for several other situations as well.
- Control nausea and vomiting.
- Stop the incessant hiccups.
- In the case of a disease called Porphyria.
- As part of the treatment for tetanus.
- Sometimes it is also given to calm the patient before a procedure.
This medicine belongs to the group of drugs called antipsychotics.
Things you need to tell your doctor before using this medicine
Before prescribing this medication, it is very important for your doctor to know your complete health history. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
| Health condition or habit | Description |
|---|---|
| Existing medical conditions | Brain tumors, dementia, diabetes, glaucoma, Parkinson's disease, seizures, heart disease, liver or kidney disease, lung diseases such as asthma, intestinal obstruction, difficulty swallowing, prostate disease, difficulty urinating. |
| Blood related problems | Decreased number of blood cells (red cells, white cells, platelets), low blood pressure. |
| Other points | If you are a frequent drinker, have had a head injury, or have difficulty controlling your muscles. |
| Allergies | If you are allergic to chlorpromazine, sulfites, other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives. |
| Pregnancy | If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. |
How should I use this medicine?
This medicine comes as a solution.
- Take the prescribed dose, exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the same time every day.
- Use only a specially marked syringe, spoon, or dropper to measure the amount of medicine. Regular household teaspoons will not measure the correct dose.
- Pour the medicine into a glass of about 60 ml (2 ounces) of liquid, such as water, fruit juice, or milk, stir well, and drink immediately.
- Or, if you prefer, you can mix it into soup or pudding. But even if you do, eat it whole right away.
Important: This medicine can be prescribed by a doctor in some special cases, even for children over 6 months of age. However, special care should be taken, so talk to your doctor carefully before giving this medicine to your child.
What to do if you take too much medicine? (Overdose)
If you think you have taken more than the prescribed dose, do not delay. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital. This is an emergency.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not share it with anyone else for any reason.
Does it interact with other medications? (Interactions)
Yes, this is very important. Chlorpromazine can interact with some other medications. Therefore, you should tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal products).
| Medicines that should never be taken with this medicine | |
|---|---|
| Cisapride | Pimozide |
| Dronedarone | Quinidine |
| Ketoconazole | Saquinavir |
| Metoclopramide | Thioridazine |
| Other things that can react | |
| Alcohol, sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, painkillers (Opioids), allergy medications (Antihistamines), some medications for depression, some medications for epilepsy, medications for Parkinson's disease, Propranolol, Lithium, and many more. | |
This list is not complete, so it's safest to tell your doctor about all the medications you take.
Things to be careful about while taking the medicine
- Drowsiness and dizziness: This medicine may affect your balance and reaction time. Therefore , do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. To reduce dizziness and lightheadedness, stand up slowly when getting up from a sitting position or getting out of bed.
- Body temperature: This medicine may make it difficult for the body to regulate its temperature. This means that the body's response to extreme cold and extreme heat may be reduced. Therefore , dress well on cold days and stay warm. Also, avoid going out in the sun and exercising excessively on hot days. Drink plenty of water.
- Sun sensitivity: This medication may make your skin sensitive to the sun. So, protect yourself from the sun. It is a good idea to use sunscreen and wear a hat.
- Dry mouth: Dry mouth is common . You can manage this by chewing sugar-free gum, sucking on sugar-free candy, and drinking plenty of water.
- Blood sugar: If you have diabetes, this medicine may increase your blood sugar levels. So check your blood sugar levels regularly. If necessary, talk to your doctor and make changes to your diet or medication.
- Stopping the medication: Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without your doctor's advice. Doing so can cause serious side effects. If you do stop, do so in the proper manner, gradually reducing the dosage as your doctor recommends.
Side effects of the medicine
Like any medicine, Chlorpromazine can cause side effects. Some are serious, while others are common.
| 🚨 Serious side effects that should be reported to your doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome | Very high fever, muscle stiffness, excessive sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, confusion. |
| Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) | Uncontrolled movements of body parts, muscle stiffness or twitching, tremors, restlessness, difficulty walking. |
| Liver damage | Pain in the upper right abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine. |
| Other | Signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat), low blood pressure (dizziness, fainting), hormonal changes (breast discharge, changes in sexual desire). |
| 🙂 Usually not serious (but if it persists, tell your doctor ) | |
| Constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, weight gain. | |
Take-Home Message
- Chlorpromazine is a medication that should only be taken under the direction of a doctor, especially for mental health conditions.
- Take the dose, exactly as your doctor tells you, and on time. Never change the dose or stop taking it suddenly.
- Inform your doctor about all other medications you are taking and any other medical conditions you may have.
- Avoid driving as drowsiness and dizziness may occur during the initial period of taking the medication.
- If you experience severe side effects such as high fever, muscle stiffness, or confusion, seek medical advice immediately.
- Store this medicine out of the reach of children and pets, away from light and moisture.
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