Have you or someone close to you been prescribed Thioridazine by your doctor? If so, this article will be very important for you. This is because it is a special medicine that is usually given as a second step when other medications fail to control symptoms. Therefore, there are several things that we need to be very careful about when using this medicine. Let's talk about it clearly and simply.
What is Thioridazine?
Simply put, Thioridazine is a medication used to treat a mental illness called schizophrenia . It comes as an oral suspension.
The main problem with this drug is that it can cause serious heart-related side effects in some people. Specifically, it can affect the rhythm of the heart. That's why doctors only prescribe this drug when other medications have failed. It can also be used for other things, but all of that is up to your doctor.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking medicine
Before starting Thioridazine, you should definitely tell your doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions. This is very important for your safety.
| Conditions to report to your doctor | |
|---|---|
| • Having heart disease or irregular heartbeat | • Diabetes |
| • Low blood pressure | • Liver disease |
| • Brain tumor or head injury | • Parkinson's disease |
| • Seizures | • Prostate disease |
| • Lung or respiratory diseases such as asthma | • Glaucoma condition |
| • Habit of drinking alcohol frequently | • Difficulty swallowing or intestinal obstruction |
| • Decreased number of blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets) | • Difficulty urinating |
| • If you have an allergic reaction to thioridazine or any other medicine, food, or dye. | |
| • If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. | |
How should I use this medicine?
Since this is a liquid medicine, you should shake the bottle well before using it. Use a specially marked spoon to measure the exact dose prescribed by your doctor. Measuring with regular household teaspoons will not work, as they are not accurate.
Take the prescribed dose as directed by your doctor. Do not increase the dose or stop taking the medication suddenly. If you do stop taking the medication, do so under the doctor's advice, gradually reducing the dose.
If you are giving this medicine to children, you should talk to a pediatrician about it. Special care may be needed.
What to do if you overdose?
If you think you have taken more than the prescribed dose, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately . Or, if possible, call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice. Do not take this lightly.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten dose.
Other drugs that may interact with Thioridazine (Drug Interactions)
This is a very important part. Thioridazine can interact with other medications and cause dangerous side effects. Therefore, you should tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including vitamins and herbal products.
| Do not take Thioridazine with this medicine. |
|---|
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| There may be problems with this medicine (tell your doctor ) |
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Things to keep in mind when taking medication
- Drowsiness and dizziness: This medicine may make you feel drowsy, dizzy, or have blurred vision. So, until you know how this medicine affects you,Do not do anything that requires alertness, such as driving or operating machinery. Be careful, especially if you are elderly, when getting up from a standing position or from a sitting position. This can cause dizziness and fall.
- Alcohol: Drinking alcohol can make you feel more sleepy and dizzy. Therefore, avoid alcohol completely while taking this medication.
- Body temperature control: This medicine may affect your body's ability to regulate temperature. Your tolerance to cold weather may decrease, as may your tolerance to heat. Therefore, avoid being in extreme cold. Limit exercise and sun exposure in extreme heat. Drink plenty of water.
- Sun sensitivity: This medication may make your skin very sensitive to the sun. So protect yourself from the sun. Wear long clothes and use sunscreen.
- Diabetes: If you are diabetic, this medicine may increase your blood sugar levels. So check your blood sugar levels regularly. If necessary, ask your doctor if you need to make any changes to your diet or medication.
- Dry mouth: Dry mouth is a common side effect of this medication. This can be controlled by chewing sugar-free gum and drinking plenty of water.
Side effects of the medicine
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately |
|---|
|
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist |
|---|
| • Constipation |
| • Drowsiness |
| • Dry mouth |
How should I store the medicine?
Keep this medicine out of the reach of children and pets . Store at room temperature (below 25 degrees Celsius), away from light. Never store in the freezer. Throw away expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Thioridazine is a medication that is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder , but it should be used with great caution because it can affect the heart.
- Before starting the medication, tell your doctor about all medical conditions you have and all medications you are taking.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any serious side effects, such as changes in heart rate, chest pain, or severe dizziness.
- Do not stop taking the medication or change the dosage on your own. Always follow your doctor's instructions.
- Avoid alcohol completely while taking this medicine.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What are Thioridazine (Thioridazine / Mellaril) tablets used for?
This is an old-generation (Typical antipsychotic / Phenothiazine) drug used to treat the severe mental illness called 'Schizophrenia'! This is not given to everyone these days, it is usually used only for the most difficult patients (Treatment-resistant) who do not seem to be able to hear strange voices or struggle/scream despite being given all other drugs (at least 2 drugs).
💬 Why is this drug (Thioridazine) used as a 'last resort' these days?
The main reason for this is the most dangerous side effect of this drug! (Black Box Warning). This can severely alter the patient's heart's electrical signals (QT prolongation / Arrhythmia / Torsades de pointes), causing a sudden rapid heartbeat/cardiac arrest and a fatal heart attack. Therefore, those taking this drug should definitely have ECG tests and blood potassium levels checked regularly.
💬 Besides the heart, what other and dangerous side effects can these pills (Thioridazine) cause?
This can cause serious and permanent damage to the eyes. If the dose is increased, pigmentary retinopathy can develop in the black eye and the back of the retina, leading to blindness and loss of vision. There is also a high risk of retrograde ejaculation, restless sleep, and uncontrollable body/tongue twitching (Tardive Dyskinesia).
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