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It is a drug used to treat mental or mood disorders, such as schizophrenia and the mood phase of bipolar disorder.
It is also used for psychotic disorders and severe behavior problems in children.
The primary function of Chlorpromazine is to help clarify thoughts to reduce anxiety and nervous attacks that produce aggressive or harmful behaviors, thus maintaining a healthy daily life and a good coexistence with the rest of the nucleus where the affected person develops.
Among the other functions is the reduction of hallucinations, such as hearing voices of people who do not exist or seeing objects, people, or things that are not at the scene.
This drug belongs to a family of drugs called phenothiazine antipsychotics, which are responsible for restoring the balance of some substances in the brain that cause mental disorders.
Some doctors use Chlorpromazine to control anxiety before surgery, reduce nausea and vomiting caused by panic attacks, relieve prolonged hiccups, and treat tetanus and restlessness.
Chlorpromazine treatment
This medication should be prescribed by a psychiatrist after a thorough evaluation of the patient and determining that they have or suffer from any mental condition or disorder that warrants its use.
Chlorpromazine cannot be taken lightly because it affects the development or behavior of patients; if the affected person does not present the necessary symptoms to have a treatment with this drug, he or they should not and cannot take it.
The dosage will depend on the mental condition, age, weight in the case of children, and the response to treatment that the affected person has.
Treatment is generally started with low doses, orally, and then the dose is increased 2 to 4 times a day with or without food or as directed by the treating physician.
Chlorpromazine treatment should not be stopped suddenly. If the patient no longer needs to use this medicine to stabilize his mental condition, its use should be eliminated by gradually lowering the dosage until no more is ingested.
Otherwise, adverse results can be had, such as a worse imbalance in the patient’s condition when the treatment begins.
Side effects
Chlorpromazine can cause some side effects in the body, such as:
- Lightheadedness after taking medicine.
- Blurred vision or difficulty focusing on objects at short or long distances.
- Sudden drowsiness, body tiredness, or trouble falling asleep.
- Dizziness, nausea, or vomiting
- Constipation .
- Weight gain.
In some cases, patients may present problems in the body muscles or the nervous system when they are being treated with Chlorpromazine; if this happens, the doctor may prescribe other medications that reduce the following symptoms:
- Difficulty swallowing food or drinks.
- Involuntary body tremors.
- Walking problems can occur when the feet drag.
- The face tends to have a mask-like expression.
- Muscular stiffness.
- Cramps in the extremities of the body.
- Sudden agitation
- Nervousness or feeling anxious
- I need to be on the go all the time.
In some cases, adverse health effects may occur, so the patient should immediately contact their treating physician if they have the following symptoms:
- Swelling in the feet, ankles, and hands.
- Butterfly-shaped skin rash, right on the nose and cheeks.
- Difficulty urinating.
- Joint or muscle pain
- Very sensitive to heat or cold.
- Difficulty visualizing objects well.
- Paleness or discoloration of the skin.
This medicine can cause muscle spasms in the face or permanent tardive dyskinesia; it is recommended that the patient should be attentive if he presents:
- Lip-smacking.
- Uncontrollable movements of the muscles of the face.
- Push your tongue.
- Unintentionally pursing your mouth.
It is scarce for this drug to cause severe allergies. However, the patient should notify their doctor if they have the following symptoms:
- Hives or itching on the extremities of the body.
- Swelling or redness of the face, tongue, and throat.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Elevated body temperature after taking medicine.
- Prolonged and severe dizziness.
Chlorpromazine Precautions
Chlorpromazine cannot be ingested by people intoxicated with alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or other drugs that cause drowsiness or decrease the respiratory rate.
This medicine can affect the heart rhythm, such as prolonging the QT interval, which could generate rapid or irregular heartbeats, so it is recommended that the patient notify their treating doctor if they have any irregularity with their heart.
Storage
Chlorpromazine should be kept in a place away from moisture and heat, at room temperature. It is not necessary to refrigerate the medicine.
