Chlorpromazine
About
Chlorpromazine belongs to a group of medications called ‘antipsychotics’. It is used in the treatment of schizophrenia or psychosis and bipolar disorder (manic depression). Besides this, it is also used to treat nausea and vomiting, anxiety before surgery, chronic hiccups (involuntary spasms of the diaphragm). Schizophrenia is characterized by hallucinations symptoms (seeing or hearing things that are not real) and delusions (wrong beliefs). Manic episodes of excitement or depression characterize bipolar disorder. Chlorpromazine prevents the occurrence of these symptoms.
Chlorpromazine contains ‘Chlorpromazine’ which is an antipsychotic drug. It acts by blocking dopamine, a neurotransmitter present in the brain responsible for developing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder symptoms. Chlorpromazine rebalances dopamine to improve thinking, mood and behaviour. It also blocks the other natural substances receptors in the brain, such as histamine and muscarinic receptors, thereby preventing nausea and vomiting.
Take Chlorpromazine as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Chlorpromazine as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects such as sleepiness, orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering of blood pressure on standing), dry mouth, abnormality of voluntary movements, weight gain, urinary retention, constipation, muscle stiffness, and tremor. Most of these side effects of Chlorpromazine do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if these side effects persist longer, please consult your doctor.
Do not take Chlorpromazine if you are allergic to Chlorpromazine or any other ingredients present in it. Before taking Chlorpromazine, talk to your doctor if you or your family have a history of blood clots, stroke or heart disease or if you are above 65 years and have a history of dementia (memory loss). Chlorpromazine is not recommended during pregnancy as it may affect the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding before taking Chlorpromazine. It is not recommended for use in children under 1 year of age. Please do not stop taking Chlorpromazine without your doctor’s advice, as it may lead to withdrawal symptoms.
Uses of Chlorpromazine
Medicinal Benefits
Chlorpromazine works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain. The key action of Chlorpromazine is to block the dopamine receptors (D2) in the brain and correct dopamine's overactivity. Altogether, Chlorpromazine may help decrease hallucinations and help you think more clearly and positively about yourself, feel less agitated and take a more active part in everyday life. On the other hand, it also blocks histamine H1 and muscarinic M1 receptors in the vomiting centre, thereby preventing nausea and vomiting.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Chlorpromazine
- Sleepiness
- Orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering of blood pressure on standing)
- Dry mouth
- Weight gain
- Urinary retention
- Constipation
- Muscle stiffness
- Tremor
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Chlorpromazine if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to any ingredients present in it. Please consult your doctor before taking Chlorpromazine if you are pregnant, planning to conceive and breastfeeding. The use of Chlorpromazine should be avoided in children and adolescents whose signs and symptoms suggest Reye’s syndrome (confusion, swelling in the brain, and liver damage). Elderly patients (above 65 years) with dementia-related psychosis (memory loss) treated with antipsychotic drugs increased the risk of death. Do not abruptly stop taking the medication, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms, especially suicidal thoughts in young adults. Before taking Chlorpromazine, talk to your doctor if you have a history of blood clots, alcohol or drug abuse, fits (seizures), Parkinson's disease, hypothyroidism (reduced activity of the thyroid gland), stroke or heart diseases, myasthenia gravis (a condition where muscles become easily tired and weak leading to difficulty breathing) and glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
Drug Interactions
Drug-drug interactions: Chlorpromazine may interact with antidepressants (citalopram, escitalopram, bupropion), medicines for Parkinson’s disease (levodopa), antiepileptic ( carbamazepine, phenobarbital), medicines control heartbeat (amiodarone, disopyramide, quinidine), medicines used to calm emotion and mental disorder (olanzapine, prochlorperazine) antihypertensive (clonidine, guanethidine, propranolol), antibiotic (moxifloxacin) and medication used to treat mental illness (lithium).
Drug-food interactions: Chlorpromazine may interact with grapefruit and alcohol and increase the risk of side-effects.
Drug-disease interactions: Chlorpromazine should be used with caution in patients with heart problems such as QT prolongation (heart rhythm problem), acute alcohol abuse, central nervous system (CNS), depression, dementia, stroke, seizures, diabetes and liver problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAlcohol may worsen the condition and increase the risk of side-effects while using Chlorpromazine.
Pregnancy
cautionChlorpromazine is a category C pregnancy drug. It may affect the unborn baby. Please consult your doctor before taking Chlorpromazine if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.
Breast Feeding
cautionChlorpromazine is known to pass through the breast milk. So, it is recommended not to be taken during breastfeeding. However, your doctor may prescribe it for you during breastfeeding if he/she feels that the benefits to you outweighs the risk.
Driving
unsafeChlorpromazine may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and light-headedness. If you are affected, do not drive or operate machinery after taking Chlorpromazine.
Liver
cautionChlorpromazine should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases. Dose adjustment may be necessary.
Kidney
cautionChlorpromazine should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. Dose adjustment may be necessary.
Children
cautionChlorpromazine is not recommended for children below 1 year of age. However, please consult a doctor before giving Chlorpromazine to children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Monitor your mood. Keep track of your mood regularly, including factors such as sleep, medicine and activities that can impact your mood.
- Exercise daily. It can also avoid the weight gain that can be a side effect of bipolar medication.
- Practice calming techniques such as meditation and deep breathing exercises.
- Get some sleep. Having enough sleep will help to stabilize your mood.
- Eat a healthy diet. Certain foods may affect your mood more than others. Consider keeping a food log to track what you eat and how certain foods make you feel. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about foods that may help stabilize your mood.
- Stay optimistic. It will take time for your symptoms to improve after you start bipolar therapy, but you will feel relaxed knowing that you will get better and that the worst is most definitely behind you.
- A person should take a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, skinless poultry, nuts, fish, whole grains, plant-based oils and low-fat dairy products will help to keep a person in good health and avoid the chances of nausea and vomiting.
- One should avoid taking greasy or oily foods as this food triggers nausea and vomiting.
- Eat cool foods instead of hot and spicy foods.
- Include clear broths, non-fat yoghurt, fruit juice, sherbet, and sports drinks for fluid make up, which has got lost due to vomiting.
Special Advise
- Geriatric patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with Chlorpromazine are at an increased risk of death. Please consult your doctor before taking Chlorpromazine.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Schizophrenia (psychosis): It is a mental illness in which brain information processing is affected. Patients with schizophrenia develop symptoms such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing unreal things), delusions (false beliefs) and withdrawal from society. They lose the ability to differentiate reality from false beliefs. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may occur due to genetic factors, alcohol or drug abuse, or mental trauma. Schizophrenia may also occur due to brain injuries or diseases.
Bipolar disorder: Patients with bipolar disorders have mood swings ranging from manic episodes of heightened excitement to severe depression. It may occur due to genetic factors, alcohol or drug abuse and mental trauma.
FAQs
Chlorpromazine works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. By inhibiting the synthesis of the dopamine hormone, there will be a decrease in the occurrence of symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar depression.
You are not recommended to stop taking Chlorpromazine without consulting your doctor. It may cause withdrawal symptoms such as palpitations (the sensation that heart skipped a beat or extra beat), anxiety, confusion, difficulty sleeping and tremors. Therefore, take Chlorpromazine for as long as your doctor has prescribed it, and if you experience any difficulty while taking Chlorpromazine, please consult your doctor so that the dose may be gradually reduced.
Chlorpromazine is not recommended for patients suffering from myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness) as it may worsen the condition. Therefore, inform your doctor if you have myasthenia gravis before taking Chlorpromazine.
Long-term use of Chlorpromazine may cause dyskinesia (a movement disorder) in some cases. However, your doctor will prescribe this medication if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Chlorpromazine can decrease anxiety, irritability or agitation. However, you should consult a doctor before using Chlorpromazine.
