Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride

Indications

Nausea and Vomiting Anxiety Schizophrenia Bipolar Disorder

Opsonil is used to treat schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis (particularly the paranoid type), as well as mania and hypomania. It can also help manage anxiety, agitation, excitement, and violent or dangerously impulsive behaviour, usually as an add-on treatment for a short period. Other uses include relieving persistent hiccups and easing nausea and vomiting in terminal illness when other medicines haven't worked or aren't available. It is also used for childhood schizophrenia and autism.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Chlorpromazine acts as an antagonist (blocking agent) on different postsysnaptic receptors -on dopaminergic-receptors (subtypes D1, D2, D3 and D4 - different antipsychotic properties on productive and unproductive symptoms), on serotonergic-receptors (5-HT1 and 5-HT2, with anxiolytic, antidepressive and antiaggressive properties as well as an attenuation of extrapypramidal side-effects, but also leading to weight gain, fall in blood pressure, sedation and ejaculation difficulties), on histaminergic-receptors (H1-receptors, sedation, antiemesis, vertigo, fall in blood pressure and weight gain), alpha1/alpha2-receptors (antisympathomimetic properties, lowering of blood pressure, reflex tachycardia, vertigo, sedation, hypersalivation and incontinence as well as sexual dysfunction, but may also attenuate pseudoparkinsonism - controversial) and finally on muscarinic (cholinergic) M1/M2-receptors (causing anticholinergic symptoms like dry mouth, blurred vision, obstipation, difficulty/inability to urinate, sinus tachycardia, ECG-changes and loss of memory, but the anticholinergic action may attenuate extrapyramidal side-effects). Additionally, Chlorpromazine is a weak presynaptic inhibitor of Dopamine reuptake, which may lead to (mild) antidepressive and antiparkinsonian effects. This action could also account for psychomotor agitation and amplification of psychosis (very rarely noted in clinical use).

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy category C. Animal studies using the oral route have shown reproductive toxicity, with dose related effects on the embryo and foetus, including increased resorptions and foetal deaths. A higher rate of malformations was seen in mice, but only at doses that were also toxic to the mother. Animal data on reproductive toxicity with the parenteral route are insufficient. In humans, the teratogenic risk of chlorpromazine has not been formally assessed. Various prospective epidemiological studies of other phenothiazines have produced conflicting findings on teratogenic risk. Chlorpromazine passes into breast milk in varying amounts, so it is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers unless the expected benefit is judged to outweigh any possible risk.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Adults, in general medicine and psychiatry, oral route: the average daily dose is 30 to 75 mg in mild cases, or 75 to 100 mg in more severe cases, given in divided doses. It is occasionally necessary to give a higher dosage, which, when increased gradually, can reach 900 mg or more per day in some psychiatric patients. Once the optimum dosage has been reached, it is maintained for as long as necessary to control symptoms during the critical phase of the illness. Eventually, however, it should be reduced gradually so the patient can be maintained on the lowest effective dosage. Adults, in surgery and anesthesia, to potentiate hypnotics, analgesics and anesthetics, and as an antiemetic, oral route: doses of 25 to 50 mg are given 2 to 3 hours before anesthesia and every 4 to 6 hours after surgery. Children: the usual single dose is 1/4 mg per pound (1/2 mg/kg) by oral route. This dose can be repeated every 4 to 6 hours as needed. The normal daily dose is 40 mg for a child of 5 years (40 pounds), and 75 mg for children aged 5 to 12 years (50 to 100 pounds), except in psychiatric patients, where dosages can be progressively increased above these levels. For surgery and anesthesia, the dose is 1/4 mg per pound, given by the same method recommended for adults.

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Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride

Indications

Pharmacology

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Dosage Reference

Side Effects & Interactions

Side Effects

Key Interactions