Chlorpromazine

Chlorpromazine, marketed in the US as Thorazine, is a typical antipsychotic drug and was the first antipsychotic to be synthesized, circa December 1950. Despite the drug's age, it still holds a place in the modern treatment of psychosis, though it is now used less often than newer antipsychotics (such as quetiapine).

Indications

Chlorpromazine is indicated for the treatment of:

• Schizophrenia
• Severe mania in people with bipolar disorder
• Uncontrollable hiccups
• As a low-dose and short-term treatment for nausea and vomiting

Side effects

Like most antipsychotics, chlorpromazine has a number of side effects, while most are common, some can be more serious, possibly resulting in Death. Side effects are:

Common

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Orthostatic hypotention
• Worsening of symptoms upon stopping treatment with the drug

Rare

• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a potentially deadly condition in which the drug disrupts the body's thermal regulation system, causing high fever and delirium.
• Tardive dyskinesia, a potentially incurable neurologic disorder, usually reported with long-term use.