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 or olanzapine) that have higher antipsychotic potency.

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.