Chlorpromazine HCL: Uses, indications and precautions when using

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Chlorpromazine is a phenothiazine used to treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia or mania in adults and to treat severe behavioral problems or hyperactivity with excessive motor activity in children. children under 12 years old.

1. Uses of the drug Chlorpromazine

Chlorpromazine is a psychoactive drug belonging to the group of phenothiazine antipsychotics. Chlorpromazine is used to treat certain mental and mood disorders (such as schizophrenia, psychosis, manic episodes of bipolar disorder, severe behavioral problems in children, and severe behavioral problems in children). em). Chlorpromazine helps you think more clearly, worry less and function more normally in your daily life. Medicines can reduce aggressive behavior and the desire to hurt yourself or others. Medicines can also help reduce hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that don't exist). Chlorpromazine is also used in adults to treat nausea and vomiting, anxiety before surgery, chronic hiccups, acute porphyria, and symptoms of tetanus.
Chlorpromazine is not approved for use in older adults with dementia-related psychosis.

2. Precautions when using Chlorpromazine

Before taking chlorpromazine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to or other phenothiazine medicines (such as perphenazine, thioridazine) or if you have any other allergies.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor your medical history, especially of liver, kidney, heart problems (such as angina pectoris, heart attack, fast, irregular heartbeat), blood pressure low blood pressure, glaucoma, seizures, an enlarged prostate gland, breathing problems (such as severe asthma, emphysema, lung infections), blood or blood clotting problems (such as such as low white blood cell count, low platelets, anemia, hemophilia), certain adrenal gland problems (pheochromocytoma), drugs, alcohol, Parkinson's disease.
Before having surgery or imaging procedures (such as X-rays, CT scans) that require the use of a contrast agent (such as metrizamide), tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medicine. use of this medicine and about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and herbal products).
Taking chlorpromazine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Use sunscreen and cover up when going outdoors. Tell your doctor right away if you get a sunburn or blistering, red skin.
Children with acute illness (such as viral infections, dehydration) are at increased risk of serious muscle problems during treatment with chlorpromazine.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medicine, especially dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, uncontrolled movement, constipation, difficulty urinating, blurred vision. Drowsiness, dizziness, and lightheadedness may increase the risk of falls in the elderly.

During pregnancy, the drug should be used only when clearly needed. Avoid using chlorpromazine near your due date because it can cause low blood pressure in the mother. In addition, babies born to mothers who have used this medicine during the third trimester of pregnancy may (rarely) develop symptoms such as muscle stiffness or tremors, drowsiness, trouble feeding, shortness of breath or constant crying. If you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn, especially in the first month after birth, tell your doctor right away. Since untreated psychotic problems (such as schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder) are a serious condition, do not stop taking the medication without your consent. directed by Doctor.
Use caution when taking the drug if you are breastfeeding because of the drug. may pass into breast milk and have undesirable effects on a nursing infant.

3. Chlorpromazine side effects

Undesirable effects of the drug include drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, dry mouth, blurred vision, fatigue, nausea, constipation, weight gain or trouble sleeping.
Dizziness and lightheadedness can increase the risk of falls, especially in the elderly. So get up slowly when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
Chlorpromazine can cause muscle and nervous system problems (extrapyramidal symptoms-EPS). So your doctor may prescribe another medication to reduce these side effects. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention right away: feeling anxious, agitated, restless, drooling, trouble swallowing, constantly having to move, shaking (tremor), walking slowly tossing, muscle spasms, severe cramps (such as twisting the neck, arching the back, rolling eyes).

Rarely, this medicine may cause facial and muscle twitching and uncontrolled movement (tardive dyskinesia). Tell your doctor right away if you experience any uncontrollable movements such as lip curling, mouth puckering, tongue sticking, chewing, or unusual arm or leg movements.
In rare cases, chlorpromazine may increase the levels of certain chemical substances made by the body (prolactin). For women, this increase in prolactin can lead to unwanted lactation, delayed or stopped periods, or difficulty getting pregnant. For men, an increase in prolactin causes decreased libido, decreased sperm production, and enlarged breasts. If any of these symptoms appear, tell your doctor right away.
Chlorpromazine can cause neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Get medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms: fever, muscle stiffness, pain, tenderness, muscle weakness, severe fatigue, confusion, sweating, fast, irregular heartbeat, watery dark urine, a sign of kidney problems (such as a change in the amount of urine).

4. Chlorpromazine HCL drug interactions

Some products that may interact with this drug are: drugs that increase dopamine levels in your body (such as cabergoline, levodopa, pergolide, ropinirole), lithium, tretinoin.
Many drugs besides chlorpromazine can affect heart rate (QT prolongation), such as amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin).
The risk of serious side effects (such as slow, shallow breathing, severe drowsiness, dizziness) may be increased if this medicine is used with other products that may also cause drowsiness or other side effects. breathing problems. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products such as an opioid pain reliever or cough medicine (such as codeine, hydrocodone), alcohol, a sleeping pill or sedative (such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), medicine muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine).
Once you know the information about the antipsychotic drug Chlorpromazine HCL, the patient should follow the instructions of the doctor or pharmacist during the treatment. Using the right medicine for the right purpose will bring extremely positive effects to the patient's health.
In addition to taking medicine, patients can also visit the Psychological Health Clinic - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital if their condition does not progress or becomes worse. The clinic has the function of examining, consulting and outpatient treatment of psychological and mental health problems in cooperation with experienced professors and experts. Therefore, customers can be assured of the quality of medical services at Vinmec hospital.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: webmd.com