Chlorpromazine, Oral/Rectal

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiemetic; antipsychotic; neuroleptic

Generic and brand names: chlorpromazine, oral; chlorpromazine, rectal; Thorazine; Ormazine

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat emotional and nervous conditions.

It may also be used to control nausea and vomiting.

It may be used to treat other medical conditions as determined by your health care provider.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• asthma
• blood or bone marrow disorder
• breast cancer
• glaucoma
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• lupus
• Parkinson's Disease
• seizures
• trouble urinating.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking this medicine. Do not breast-feed while taking with this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval. You may have to reduce your dosage gradually.

This medicine may come in different forms. Do not chew or crush the extended release tablets or sustained action capsules. If your health care provider prescribes the oral concentrate form, you must dilute it with 2 to 4 ounces of liquid (water, fruit juice, milk, or pudding) before taking it. Do not mix with liquids that contain caffeine such as coffee, tea, or cola).

You may take this medicine with food or milk to lessen stomach upset. Do not take this medicine within 2 hours of taking an antacid such as Mylanta, Maalox, or Amphojel.

To use a suppository, remove the foil wrapper and moisten the suppository with water. If the suppository is too soft to insert easily, run cold water over it or put it in ice water until it is firm. If it is too dry or hard, moisten it with warm water. Lie on your left side and bend your right knee up toward your chest. Gently push the suppository into your rectum deep enough so that it will not come out.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. Also, drinking alcohol may make it worse. Do not drink alcohol unless your health care provider approves.

This medicine may decrease normal sweating. Exercise carefully, especially in hot weather.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun and may cause you to sunburn more easily. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. While you are in the sun, wear protective clothing and sunscreen lotion until you know how you will react to the sun. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your health care provider right away.

Using this medicine for a long time may cause muscle spasms, twitching in the face and body, and uncontrolled tongue or jaw movement. Talk to your health care provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Severe muscle stiffness; loss of bladder control; seizures; trouble breathing; high fever; irregular heartbeat; pale skin; increased movements of tongue, mouth, hands, and other muscles.

Other: Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, sensitivity to sun.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• antacids (take them 2 hours apart from this medicine)
• anticholinergic medicines such as benztropine (Cogentin), dicyclomine (Bentyl), atropine sulfate, belladonna, propantheline (Pro-Banthine), methscopolamine (Pamine), l-hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levsinex), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Solfoton), amobarbital (Amytal), and butabarbital (Butisol)
• blood pressure medicines such as prazosin (Minipress), doxazosin (Cardura), benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiamate, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), betaxolol (Kerlone), carteolol (Cartrol), bisoprolol (Zebeta), pindolol (Visken), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), timolol (Blocadren), sotalol (Betapace), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), and carvedilol (Coreg)
• guanethidine (Ismelin)
• levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)
• lithium (Lithotabs, Lithonate, Lithobid)
• methyldopa (Aldomet)
• narcotics such as codeine, morphine, and meperidine (Demerol)
• nitrates such as nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrong, Nitrolingual, Nitrol, Nitro-Dur) and isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• pimozide (Orap)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), and imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan).
• warfarin.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store the tablets at room temperature. Store the liquid in the refrigerator, but do not let it freeze. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.