Your doctor may have prescribed you a pill called Perphenazine to control things like vomiting and nausea that we sometimes experience, or as a treatment for some mental health problems. Although this is a very useful medicine, there are a few things we need to be careful about when using it. So today, let's talk about what Perphenazine is, how to use it, and what things we need to pay attention to.
What is Perphenazine?
Simply put, Perphenazine is a medication that is primarily used to control nausea and vomiting . It is also used to treat certain mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia .
This works by controlling the signals in our body that cause nausea and vomiting. It also helps balance the levels of a chemical called dopamine in the brain, which helps control mood, behavior, and thoughts. You can sometimes find this medication under the brand name Trilafon.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before using Perphenazine, you should definitely tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions, as this medicine is not suitable for everyone.
| Do you have these conditions? | Why should you inform the doctor? |
|---|---|
| If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant | This medicine may affect the baby in the womb. |
| If the baby is breastfed | The medicine can pass to the baby through breast milk. |
| Heart disease, irregular heartbeat, or low blood pressure | This drug can affect heart rate and blood pressure. |
| Liver disease | Because the drug is processed by the liver, problems may occur in liver disease. |
| Diabetes | This can change blood sugar levels. |
| Seizures or Parkinson's disease | These medical conditions are likely to worsen. |
| Glaucoma condition | Eye pressure may increase. |
| If you drink alcohol regularly | This medicine interacts with alcohol and increases drowsiness. |
| Allergies to other medications, foods, or substances | It is important to be aware that perphenazine can also cause allergic reactions. |
How should I use the medicine?
- Take this pill with a glass of water.
- Take the exact dose, at the exact time, as prescribed by your doctor.
- Never drink more than the recommended amount.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without your doctor's advice. Doing so may cause severe reactions.
- Special care should be taken if this medicine is given to children under 12 years of age.
Important: If you think you have taken too much medicine, 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 medicine has been prescribed for you only by your doctor. Never share it with anyone else. It can be dangerous.
What do you do if you miss a medication appointment?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
Other drugs that may interact with this medicine (Drug Interactions)
Perphenazine is a drug that can interact with other medications. Therefore, it is very important to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and traditional medicines you are taking.
| Never take Perphenazine with this medicine. | |
|---|---|
| Cisapride | Dronedarone |
| Metoclopramide | Pimozide |
| Thioridazine | Saquinavir |
| Be very careful if you take Perphenazine with these things. | |
| Alcohol | Medications for high blood pressure |
| Medicines for allergies, coughs, and colds (Antihistamines) | Medications for Parkinson's disease (e.g. Levodopa) |
| Medications for depression, anxiety, or sleep | Drugs used for anesthesia during surgery |
| Antiepileptic drugs (e.g. Phenobarbital) | Some narcotic medications |
Things to keep in mind when taking medication
- Drowsiness and dizziness: This medicine may make you feel drowsy and dizzy. So avoid driving, operating machinery, and doing other activities that require alertness until you know how this affects you. Be careful when getting up or sitting down quickly, especially if you are elderly.
- Problems regulating body temperature: This medicine may make your body less sensitive to cold and heat. So, if the weather is very cold, wear warm clothes. Also, be careful of excessive heat and sun. Drink plenty of water.
- Sun sensitivity: Your skin may become very sensitive to the sun while taking this medication. Therefore, if you are going to be in the sun, wear clothing that covers your skin and use sunscreen.
- Dry mouth: Dry mouth is common. You can control this by chewing sugar-free gum and drinking plenty of water.
- Surgery: If you are having surgery, be sure to tell the doctor that you are taking Perphenazine.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
| Side effects that you should report to your doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome | High fever, muscle stiffness, excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat, and confusion. |
| Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) | Uncontrolled movements of body parts, muscle stiffness or tremors, restlessness, difficulty walking. |
| Low blood pressure | Dizziness, fainting, blurred vision. |
| Signs of infection | Fever, chills, cough, sore throat. |
| Elevated prolactin levels | Breast discharge, irregular menstrual cycles in women, changes in sexual desire. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Drowsiness | Dry mouth |
| Constipation | |
How should you store your medicine?
- Keep it out of the reach of children .
- Store at room temperature (between 20-25 degrees Celsius).
- Protect from light.
- Throw away expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Perphenazine is a medication that should only be taken under the advice of a doctor. Take the prescribed dose at the prescribed time.
- Inform your doctor about all other medications you are taking and any medical conditions you have.
- This medication may cause drowsiness, so avoid driving and performing tasks that require alertness.
- If you experience any serious side effects, such as high fever, muscle stiffness, or uncontrollable shaking, seek medical advice immediately.
- This medicine is for you only. Never share it with anyone else.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What are Perphenazine tablets used for?
This is a powerful old-generation (Typical antipsychotic / Phenothiazine) drug that is used to treat the severe mental illness called 'Schizophrenia' and severe nausea and vomiting! It calms the patient by eliminating the hallucinations and impulsivity that the patient hears/sees.
💬 How does this drug (Perphenazine) go to the brain and cure schizophrenia/vomiting at the same time?
The main reason for severe mental illness and continuous vomiting is the excessive increase in the chemical 'Dopamine' in the brain! This drug blocks/closes 100% of the dopamine receptors (D2 receptors) as soon as it enters the brain. It eliminates the bizarre thoughts in the mind, and also paralyzes the vomiting center (CTZ) in the brain, stopping the vomiting.
💬 What are the dangerous side effects of taking perphenazine?
This old drug has a lot of side effects! The biggest danger is 'Tardive Dyskinesia (EPS/Tardive Dyskinesia)'. That is, when you drink this, you will definitely experience uncontrollable shaking of the legs/hands, closing of the eyes, sticking out the tongue, and becoming rigid like a robot. There is also a high possibility of things like the cessation of menstruation in women and the enlargement of the breasts in men (Hyperprolactinemia/Gynecomastia).
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