PHENOTHIAZINES

Brand & Generic Names

ACETOPHENAZINE	Permitil Concentrate
Apo-Fluphenazine	PERPHENAZINE
Apo-Perphenazine	Phenazine
Apo-Thioridazine	Piportil L4
Apo-Trifluoperazine	PIPOTIAZINE
Chlorpromanyl-20	PMS Thioridazine
Chlorpromanyl-40	PROCHLORPERAZINE
CHLORPROMAZINE	Prolixin
Compazine	Prolixin Concentrate
Compazine Spansule	Prolixin Decanoate
Dartal	Prolixin Enanthate
FLUPHENAZINE	PROMAZINE
Largactil	Prozine
Largactil Liquid	Serentil
Largactil Oral Drops	Serentil Concentrate
Levoprome	Solazine
Majeptil	Stelazine
Mellaril	Stelazine Concentrate
Mellaril Concentrate	Stemetil
Mellaril-S	Stemetil Liquid
MESORIDAZINE	Suprazine
METHOTRIMEPRAZINE	Terfluzine Concentrate
Modecate	THIOPROPAZATE
Moditen Enanthate	THIOPROPERAZINE
Moditen HCl	THIORIDAZINE
Moditen HCl-H.P	Thorazine
Neuleptil	Thorazine Concentrate
Novo-Chlorpromazine	Thorazine Spansule
Novo-Flurazine	Thor-Prom
Novo-Ridazine	Tindal
Nozinan	TRIFLUOPERAZINE
Nozinan Liquid	TRIFLUPROMAZINE
Nozinan Oral Drops	Trilafon
PERICYAZINE	Trilafon Concentrate
Permitil	Vesprin

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes, for some.
• Drug class: Tranquilizer, antiemetic (phenothiazine)

Uses

• Stops nausea, vomiting, hiccups.
• Reduces anxiety, agitation.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet or extended-release capsule--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation.
Suppositories--Remove wrapper and moisten suppository with water. Gently insert into rectum, large end first.
Drops or liquid--Dilute dose in beverage.

When to take:
Nervous and mental disorders--Take at the same times each day.
Nausea and vomiting--Take as needed, no more often than every 4 hours.

If you forget a dose:
Nervous and mental disorders--Take up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).
Nausea and vomiting--Take as soon as you remember. Wait 4 hours for next dose.

What drug does:
Suppresses brain's vomiting center.
Suppresses brain centers that control abnormal emotions and behavior.

Time lapse before drug works:
Nausea and vomiting--1 hour or less.
Nervous and mental disorders--4 to 6 weeks.

Don't take with:
Antacid or medicine for diarrhea.
Non-prescription drug for cough, cold or allergy.
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Stupor, convulsions, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Uncontrolled muscle Discontinue. Seek movements of tongue, emergency treatment. face and other muscles (neuroleptic malignant syndrome*, rare).

Common:

• Muscle spasms of face and neck, unsteady gait.
• Restlessness, tremor, drowsiness, blurred vision, lip smacking, worm-like movements of tongue.
• Decreased sweating, dry mouth, stuffy nose, constipation.

Infrequent:

• Fainting.
• Rash.
• Difficult urination, decreased sex drive, swollen breasts, menstrual irregularities, dizziness.

Rare:

Vision changes, sore throat, fever, jaundice, abdominal pain, confusion, hot dry skin, prolonged penile erections.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any phenothiazine.
• You have a blood or bone-marrow disease.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.
• If you have asthma, emphysema or other lung disorder; glaucoma; or prostate trouble.
• If you take non-prescription ulcer medicine, asthma medicine or amphetamines.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons. More likely to develop involuntary movement of jaws, lips, tongue; chewing. Report this to your doctor immediately. Early treatment can help.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:
Don't give to children younger than 2.

Prolonged use:

• May lead to tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movement of jaws, lips, tongue; chewing).
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit), blood pressure, liver function, eyes.

Skin & sunlight:
May cause rash or intensify sunburn in areas exposed to sun or sunlamp. Skin may remain sensitive for 3 months after discontinuing.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes.

Discontinuing:

• Nervous and mental disorders--Don't discontinue without doctor's advice until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.
• Nausea and vomiting--May be unnecessary to finish medicine. Follow doctor's instructions.

Others:

• No problems expected.
• Advise any doctor or dentist whom you consult that you take this medicine.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Anticholinergics*	Increased anticholinergic effect.
Antidepressants,	Increased phenothiazine effect.
Antihistamines*	Increased antihistamine effect.
Antihypertensives*	Severe low blood pressure.
Antithyroid agents*	Increased risk of blood disorders.
Appetite	Decreased appetite suppressant
suppressants*	effect.
Bupropion	Increased risk of major seizures.
Calcium supplements*	Decreased phenothiazine effect.
Clozapine	Toxic effect on the central nervous
	system.
Dronabinol	Increased effects of both drugs. Avoid.
Guanethidine	Increased guanethidine effect.
Isoniazid	Increased risk of liver damage.
Levodopa	Decreased levodopa effect.
Lithium	Decreased lithium effect.
Metrizamide	Increased seizures.
Metyrosine	Increased likelihood of toxic
	symptoms of each.
Mind-altering	Increased effect of mind-altering
drugs*	drugs.
Molindone	Increased tranquilizer effect.
Nabilone	Greater depression of central
	nervous system.
Narcotics*	Increased narcotic effect.
Paroxetine	Increased effects of both drugs.
Procarbazine	Increased sedation.
Quinidine	Impaired heart function. Dangerous
	mixture.
Sedatives*	Increased sedation.
Tranquilizers*	Increased tranquilizer
(other)	effect.
Zolpidem	Increased sedation effect. Avoid.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Dangerous oversedation. Avoid
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	Decreased phenothiazine effect.
	Avoid.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Drowsiness. May increase antinausea
	effect.
Tobacco:	None expected.