Thorazine is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of Schizophrenia, Psychotic Disorders, nausea and vomiting, anxiety before surgery, intraoperative sedation, intractable hiccups and Acute Intermittent Prophyria (itching and blisters of the skin). Thorazine may be used alone or with other medications.
Full Answer
Is Thorazine a phenothiazine?
Thorazine (Chlorpromazine) Thorazine (chlorpromazine) is a conventional or typical antipsychotic medication belonging to a class of drugs called phenothiazines. It works by interfering with dopaminergic transmissions and reducing excitement in the brain.
What is Thorazine used to treat in schizophrenia?
Treatment Purpose of Thorazine. Thorazine is used to manage and reduce hallucinations, delusions, extreme emotions, and other related symptoms that generally accompany schizophrenia. It may also be used to reduce symptoms of mania experienced by people diagnosed with bipolar.
What should I know about Thorazine (Chlorpromazine) before taking it?
General. Thorazine (chlorpromazine) should be administered cautiously to persons with cardiovascular, liver or renal disease. There is evidence that patients with a history of hepatic encephalopathy due to cirrhosis have increased sensitivity to the CNS effects of Thorazine (chlorpromazine) (i.e.,...
Is Thorazine still available in the US?
Thorazine is no longer available in the United States under the trade name Thorazine. There may be generic forms available. It is now most commonly used as a tranquilizer to treat aggression, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental conditions.
Why was Thorazine discontinued?
Indications. Thioridazine was voluntarily withdrawn off the market by its maker, Novartis, because it caused severe cardiac arrhythmias. Its princi...
What year did Thorazine come out?
Schizophrenia, a chronic and severe brain disorder, affects more than 2 million Americans each year. Chlorpromazine, marketed by Smith-Kline & Fren...
Is thorazine still used?
Thorazine is also used to treat nausea and vomiting before surgery, anxiety before surgery, recurrent hiccups, acute intermittent porphyria, and te...
Can you become addicted to Thorazine?
Thorazine (chlorpromazine), like other phenothiazines, is not known to generate psychological dependency and does not produce tolerance or addictio...
Why did the US not approve of thalidomide?
When thalidomide was initially launched in the 1950s, it was not licensed for sale in the United States. The medicine did not go through lengthy st...
What is thorazine used for?
Thorazine is used to manage and reduce hallucinations, delusions, extreme emotions, and other related symptoms that generally accompany schizophrenia. It may also be used to reduce symptoms of mania experienced by people diagnosed with bipolar. Children ages one to 12 years who display severe behavioral issues may benefit from taking this medication. While this medication does help to manage associated symptoms, it is not intended to be used as a cure for schizophrenia, bipolar, or behavioral issues. People taking this drug for mental health concerns often also pursue other psychological treatment such as psychotherapy.
How to stop thorazine from causing skin irritation?
Thorazine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid spending excessive amounts of time in the sun and avoid the use of tanning beds.
How to know if you're off of thorazine?
It is important to taper off of this medication slowly to avoid severe withdrawal reactions, even if you are replacing Thorazine with another medication. Talk to your doctor about the best way to lower and eventually stop your dosage. Possible symptoms of withdrawal include: Nausea or vomiting. Dizziness or shakiness.
What are the side effects of thorazine?
If you experience serious or severe side effects after using this medication, you should call your doctor. Serious side effects may include: Flu-like symptoms, including fever, sweating, chills, or sore throat. Irregular or quick heartbeat.
Can Thorazine cause a baby to shake?
This medication may cause inaccurate readings on home pregnancy tests. If you become pregnant while you are being treated with this medication, you should talk to your doctor about other therapeutic options for your condition. This drug may cause irritability, difficulty breathing, feeding issues, shaking, limp or rigid muscles, and withdrawal symptoms in newborns if taken during the third trimester of pregnancy. Chlorpromazine, the active ingredient in Thorazine, may pass into breast milk and harm a nursing baby. Do not stop taking this medication unless advised to do so by your doctor.
Can you take chlorpromazine if you have a reaction to it?
Do not use this drug if you have allergic reactions to chlorpromazine or other drugs in the phenothiazine family. This medication may increase the risk of death for elderly people experiencing dementia. Excessive or long-term use of this drug may lead to the development of a severe and sometimes irreversible condition called tardive dyskinesia.
Does thorazine interact with other medications?
Thorazine may interact with other medications or supplements, including antihistamines, anticoagulants, barbiturates, diuretics, anti-anxiety medications, herbal products, vitamins, minerals, and more. If you are taking other prescription drugs or supplements, you should check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medication.
What is thorazine used for?
Thorazine is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of Schizophrenia, Psychotic Disorders, nausea and vomiting, anxiety before surgery, intraoperative sedation, intractable hiccups and Acute Intermittent Prophyria (itching and blisters of the skin). Thorazine may be used alone or with other medications.
How to report thorazine side effects?
These are not all the possible side effects of Thorazine. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 .
Why do phenothiazines cause death?
In some cases, the cause appeared to be cardiac arrest or asphyxia due to failure of the cough reflex.
How to report side effects of prescription drugs?
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
How long to observe hypotension after a syringe?
To minimize hypotension after injection, keep patient lying down and observe for at least 1 / 2 hour. To control hypotension, place patient in head-low position with legs raised.
Can you inject thorazine into veins?
Subcutaneous injection is not advised. Avoid injecting undiluted Thorazine (chlorpromazine) into vein. I.V. route is only for severe hiccups, surgery and tetanus. Because of the possibility of contact dermatitis, avoid getting solution on hands or clothing.
Does thorazine cause neck pain?
Thorazine may cause serious side effects including: uncontrolled muscle movements in your face, stiffness in your neck, tightness in your throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, lightheadedness, confusion,
What is chlorpromazine used for?
It can reduce aggressive behavior and the desire to hurt yourself/others. It may also help to decrease hallucinations (hearing/seeing things that are not there). Chlorpromazine is a psychiatric medication that belongs to the class of drugs called phenothiazine antipsychotics. It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain .Chlorpromazine is also used to control nausea / vomiting, relieve prolonged hiccups, relieve restlessness/ anxiety before surgery, treat a certain liver problem ( porphyria ), and help treat tetanus.
What to know before taking chlorpromazine?
Before using chlorpromazine, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems ( heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG ), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death).
How long should you stay down after taking chlorpromazine?
For some uses (such as tetanus, prolonged hiccups ), chlorpromazine may be given by injection into a vein. You should remain lying down for at least 30 minutes after each injection.
What drugs interact with dopamine?
Some products that may interact with this drug are: drugs that increase the amount of dopamine in your body (such as cabergoline, levodopa, pergolide, ropinirole ), lithium, tretinoin.
Can tardive dyskinesia cause twitching?
Rarely, this medication may cause face/muscle twitching and uncontrollable movements ( tardive dyskinesia ). In some cases, this condition may be permanent. Tell your doctor right away if you develop any uncontrollable movements such as lip smacking, mouth puckering, tongue thrusting, chewing, or unusual arm/leg movements.
Does chlorpromazine help with tetanus?
It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain .Chlorpromazine is also used to control nausea / vomiting, relieve prolonged hiccups, relieve restlessness/ anxiety before surgery, treat a certain liver problem ( por phyria ), and help treat tetanus.
Does chlorpromazine increase prolactin?
In rare cases, chlorpromazine may increase your level of a certain chemical made by the body ( prolactin ). For females, this increase in prolactin may result in unwanted breast milk, missed/stopped periods, or difficulty becoming pregnant.
When was chlorpromazine first used?
Chlorpromazine was developed in 1950 and was the first antipsychotic. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. Its introduction has been labeled as one of the great advances in the history of psychiatry. It is available as a generic medication.
What is CPZ used for?
Chlorpromazine ( CPZ ), marketed under the brand names Thorazine and Largactil among others, is an antipsychotic medication. It is primarily used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Other uses include the treatment of bipolar disorder, severe behavioral problems in children including those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, nausea and vomiting, anxiety before surgery, and hiccups that do not improve following other measures. It can be given by mouth, by injection into a muscle, or into a vein.
How to reduce chlorpromazine absorption?
Consuming food prior to taking chlorpromazine orally limits its absorption, likewise cotreatment with benztropine can also reduce chlorpromazine absorption. Alcohol can also reduce chlorpromazine absorption. Antacids slow chlorpromazine absorption. Lithium and chronic treatment with barbiturates can increase chlorpromazine clearance significantly. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) can decrease chlorpromazine clearance and hence increase chlorpromazine exposure. Cotreatment with CYP1A2 inhibitors like ciprofloxacin, fluvoxamine or vemurafenib can reduce chlorpromazine clearance and hence increase exposure and potentially also adverse effects. Chlorpromazine can also potentiate the CNS depressant effects of drugs like barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opioids, lithium and anesthetics and hence increase the potential for adverse effects such as respiratory depression and sedation.
What was the name of the drug that replaced electroconvulsive therapy?
From chlorpromazine a number of other similar antipsychotics were developed. It also led to the discovery of antidepressants. Chlorpromazine largely replaced electroconvulsive therapy, hydrotherapy, psychosurgery, and insulin shock therapy. By 1964, about 50 million people worldwide had taken it.
Why is chlorpromazine considered a dirty drug?
Because it acts on so many receptors, chlorpromazine is often referred to as a " dirty drug ".
What is Laborit's drug?
Laborit thought this would allow the body to better tolerate major surgery by reducing shock, a novel idea at the time. Known colloquially as "Laborit's drug", chlorpromazine was released onto the market in 1953 by Rhône-Poulenc and given the trade name Largactil, derived from large "broad" and acti* "activity.
How much chlorpromazine is excreted?
Less than 1% of the unchanged drug is excreted via the kidneys in the urine, in which 20–70% is excreted as conjugated or unconjugated metabolites, whereas 5–6% is excreted in feces. Three common metabolites of chlorpromazine.
What is the name of the review of the literature on the psychiatric use of a pheno?
Tarasov GK. Aminazine, review of the literature on the psychiatric use of a phenothiazine derivative. Zhurnal Nevropatologii i Psikhiatria Korsakov. 1955;55:296–310. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
When was chlorpromazine first used?
Chlorpromazine was synthesized in December 1951 in the laboratories of Rhône-Poiulenc, and became available on prescription in France in November 1952. Its effectiveness was reflected in the transformation of disturbed wards; its commercial success stimulated the development of other psychotropic drugs. Recognition of chemical mediation at the site of the synapse, followed by the introduction of the spectrophotofluorimeter first, and receptor assays subsequently, led to the demonstration that chlorpromazine blocks dopamine receptors. Treatment with chlorpromazine focused attention on the heterogeneity of schizophrenia in terms of responsiveness to treatment. By the mid-1980s there was sufficient evidence to believe that resolving this heterogeneity is a prerequisite for developing more effective treatments. Chlorpromazine was instrumental in the development of neuropsychopharmacology, a new discipline dedicated to the study of mental pathology with the employment of centrally acting drugs.
How long has CPZ been around?
Since the introduction of CPZ more than 50 years have passed; and pharmacotherapy has become the primary treatment in psychiatry. The therapeutic success of CPZ was instrumental in the reintegration of psychiatry with the other medical disciplines. It turned psychiatrists from caregivers to full-fledged physicians who can help their patients and not only listen to their problems (Lambert 1998).
What is CPZ used for?
In collaboration with Huguenard and Alluaume, he employed the drug as an adjunct to surgical anesthetics (“anesthetic cocktail,” “lytic cocktail”) because of its body temperature lowering effect. He found that CPZ, in the dosage of 50 to 100 mg given intravenously, produced disinterest without loss of consciousness and with only a slight tendency to sleep. His first paper on CPZ was published in the February 13th issue of La Presse Médicale in 1952 with the title “A new vegetative (autonomic) stabilizer” (Laborit et al 1952).
When was CPZ first used?
Clinical investigations with CPZ at Saint-Anne’s hospital – at Pierre Deniker’s service in Jean Delay’s department – in Paris began on March 24, 1952 (Caldwell 1970). Since it was believed that the drug worked by inducing “artificial hibernation,” ice packs were used to enhance “cooling.” It did not take long to recognize that “cooling” did not contribute to the drug’s therapeutic effect (Thuillier 1999). In most patients CPZ alone, in the daily dosage of 75 mg, was sufficient for controlling behavior. Early findings with CPZ at Saint-Anne were presented on May 25, 1952, at the centennial meeting of the Société Médico-Psychologique. (Delay et al 1952a). The six publications of Delay and Deniker during the six months that followed (Delay and Deniker 1952a, 1952b, 1952c; Delay et al 1952a, 1952b, 1952c), set the stage for the introduction of CPZ in psychiatry (Olie 2004). Other publications in 1952 included a report by Follin (1952), on the successful treatment of an aggressive paranoiac patient with CPZ at Montauban mental hospital in France (Caldwell 1970); an article by Rigotti (1952), on 20 psychiatric patients treated with CPZ in Padua, Italy; and a paper by Arnold, Hilt and Solma (1952), on the use of CPZ in psychiatry in Vienna, Austria.
What neurotransmitters were identified in the 1950s?
Simultaneously with the development of CPZ there was a shift in understanding of the nature of synaptic transmission from a purely electrical to a chemically-mediated event; and by the end of the 1950s, six neurotransmitters were identified in the central nervous system: acetylcholine, dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, norepinephrine, serotonin, and substance P (Ban 2001). Recognition of chemical mediation at the site of the synapse, coupled with the introduction of the spectrophotofluorimeter (Bowman et al 1955), an instrument that allowed the chemical analysis of compounds that occur in small amounts in the brain, such as the monoamines and their metabolites, triggered the development of neuropharmacology in the mid-1950s (Carlsson 1998, 2004). There were high expectations that CPZ combined with spectrophotofluorimetry would provide a royal road to the understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. It was also hoped that there would be feedback from clinical psychopharmacologists to neuropharmacologists, that would help to develop clinically more selective and thereby more effective pharmacological treatments (Ban 1999).
What was the significance of the introduction of CPZ?
Introduction of CPZ was also instrumental in the development of neuropsychopharmacology, a new discipline that provided the necessary methodology for psychiatry to examine and change its theoretical framework. By the end of the 20th century, Wilhelm Griesinger’s contention that mental illness is a symptom of brain disease (Griesinger 1845) has become an accepted reality, and Joseph Moreau de Tours’ vision of understanding mental pathology by studying the effect of centrally acting drugs (Moreau de Tours 1845) an accepted methodology in psychiatry. But in spite of all the progress made in the understanding of signal transduction in the brain, and designing drugs which fit like keys in their locks, none of the newer antipsychotic drugs has surpassed the effectiveness of CPZ (Ban 2004; Lieberman et al 2005). Hence, if an agitated and aggressive psychotic patient in the emergency fails to respond to some of the excellent new medications which may offer distinct advantages in terms of one or another side effect, one should not hesitate in prescribing good old CPZ that has remained even after 50 years one of the most reliable antipsychotic drugs.
Mechanism of action
- Thorazine (chlorpromazine) is a conventional or typical antipsychotic medication belonging to a class of drugs called phenothiazines. It works by interfering with dopaminergic transmissions and reducing excitement in the brain. This medication is only available with a doctor or psychiatrists prescription.
Medical uses
- Thorazine is used to manage and reduce hallucinations, delusions, extreme emotions, and other related symptoms that generally accompany schizophrenia. It may also be used to reduce symptoms of mania experienced by people diagnosed with bipolar. Children ages one to 12 years who display severe behavioral issues may benefit from taking this medication. While this medic…
Contraindications
- Do not use this drug if you have allergic reactions to chlorpromazine or other drugs in the phenothiazine family. This medication may increase the risk of death for elderly people experiencing dementia. Excessive or long-term use of this drug may lead to the development of a severe and sometimes irreversible condition called tardive dyskinesia. Talk to your doctor befor…
Interactions
- Thorazine may interact with other medications or supplements, including antihistamines, anticoagulants, barbiturates, diuretics, anti-anxiety medications, herbal products, vitamins, minerals, and more. If you are taking other prescription drugs or supplements, you should check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medication.
Risks
- Using this drug may increase your risk for injury, accidents, and may complicate pregnancy. If you are prescribed this drug, your doctor or pharmacist should cover the following warnings: If you experience serious or severe side effects after using this medication, you should call your doctor. Serious side effects may include: