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Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

Category:

  • Miscellaneous

Description:

  • Antipsychotic, antiemetic

Indications:

  • Psychotic disorders, mania, schizophrenia, anxiety, intractable hiccups

  • Nausea, vomiting, preoperative relaxation, acute intermittent porphyria

  • Behavioral problems in children, adjunct in treatment of tetanus

Contraindications:

  • Circulatory collapse, liver damage, cerebral arteriosclerosus, coronary disease

  • Severe hypertension/hypotension, alcohol and barbiturate withdrawal, blood dyscrasias

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy category C; enters breast milk

  • Seizure disorders, hepatic disease, cardiac disease, elderly (orthostatic hypotension)

  • Hypertension

  • Use sunscreen and sunglasses

  • Urine may turn pink or red

  • Avoid hot showers, hot tubs, tub baths

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • CNS: EPS, headache, seizures, tardive dyskinesia

  • CV: cardiac arrest, ECG changes, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, hypertension

  • HEME: agranulocytosis, anemia, leukocytosis, leukopenia

  • RESP: dyspnea, laryngospasm, respiratory depression

  • MISC: neuroleptic malignant syndrome

  • GU: amenorrhea, breast engorgement, enuresis, gynecomastia, impotence, urinary frequency, urinary retention

  • GI: anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, weight gain

Dosage:

Administered orally (tablet, suspension), intravenously, intramuscularly, rectally

  • Adult:            

    • Psychosis: 

      • PO 10mg 3-4 times daily or 25mg 2-3 times daily. Increase by 25-50mg semiweekly. Maintenance 200-800mg daily

      • IM 25mg. May repeat dose in 1 hour as needed.  Increase gradually over several days up to 400mg every 4-6 hours in severe cases.Substitute PO when possible.

    • Nausea and vomiting: 

      • PO 10-25mg every 4-6 hours as needed

      • IM 25-50mg every 3 hours as needed

      • RECT 50-100mg every 6-8 hours as neede, not to exceed 400mg daily; 

      • IV 25-50mg 1-4 times daily

    • Intractable hiccups: 

      • PO 25-50mg 3-4 times daily; 

      • IM 25-50mg (use only if PO does not work.)

      •  IV 25-50mg in 500-1000 ml saline (only for severe hiccups.)

    • Intermittent porphyria

      • PO 25-50mg 3-4 times daily

      • IM 25mg 3-4 times daily

    • Tetanus: 

      • IM 25-50mg 3-4 times daily

      • IV 25-50mg

  • Child:   not to exceed 40 mg/day (<5 years) or 75 mg/day (5-12 years)

    • Psychosis: 

      • PO 0.5 mg/kg every 4-6 hours as needed

      • IM 0.5 mg/kg every 6-8 hours as needed

      • RECT 1 mg/kg every 6-8 hours

    • Nausea and vomiting: 

    • PO 0.55 mg/kg every 4-6 hours as needed

    • IM 0.55 mg/kg every 6-8 hours as needed

    • RECT 1.1 mg/kg every 6-8 hours as needed

    • IV 0.55 mg/kg every 6-8 hours

 


The information contained here is an abbreviated summary. For more detailed and complete information, consult the manufacturer's product information sheets or standard textbooks

Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300

This information is provided by The Brookside Associates.  The Brookside Associates, LLC. is a private organization, not affiliated with any governmental agency. The opinions presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Brookside Associates or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. All material presented here is unclassified.

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