Chlorpromazine

FDA Drug Information • Also known as: Chlorpromazine, Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride

Brand Names: Chlorpromazine, Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride
Route: ORAL
Dosage Form: TABLET
Product Type: HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG

⚠ Boxed Warning (Black Box)

WARNING Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of seventeen placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks), largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, revealed a risk of death in drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times the risk of death in placebo-treated patients. Over the course of a typical 10-week controlled trial, the rate of death in drug-treated patients was about 4.5%, compared to a rate of about 2.6% in the placebo group. Although the causes of death were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (e.g., heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (e.g., pneumonia) in nature. Observational studies suggest that, similar to atypical antipsychotic drugs, treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality. The extent to which the findings of increased mortality in observational studies may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to some characteristic(s) of the patients is not clear. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see WARNINGS ] .

Description

DESCRIPTION Chlorpromazine hydrochloride, USP, a dimethylamine derivative of phenothiazine, has a chemical formula of 2-chloro-10-[3-(dimethylamino) propyl] phenothiazine monohydrochloride. It is available in tablets for oral administration. It has the following structural formula: Chlorpromazine hydrochloride, USP occurs as white to creamy white, crystalline powder. Each tablet for oral administration contains 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, or 200 mg of chlorpromazine hydrochloride, USP. Inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, crospovidone, sodium starch glycolate (10 mg and 25 mg), microcrystalline cellulose (50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg) and sodium lauryl sulfate (50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg) povidone K-30, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, talc, polyethylene glycol 6000 (10 mg and 25 mg) and polyethylene glycol 3350 (50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg). Additionally, 50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg strengths also contain polyvinyl alcohol, D&C Yellow #10 Aluminium Lake, D&C Red #30 Aluminium Lake, FD&C Blue #2 Aluminium Lake. The tablets are imprinted with edible black ink. The edible black ink contains shellac, black iron oxide and propylene glycol. FDA approved dissolution test specifications differ from USP. structure

What Is Chlorpromazine Used For?

INDICATIONS AND USAGE For the management of manifestations of psychotic disorders. For the treatment of schizophrenia. To control nausea and vomiting. For relief of restlessness and apprehension before surgery. For acute intermittent porphyria. As an adjunct in the treatment of tetanus. To control the manifestations of the manic type of manic-depressive illness. For relief of intractable hiccups. For the treatment of severe behavioral problems in children (1 to 12 years of age) marked by combativeness and/or explosive hyperexcitable behavior (out of proportion to immediate provocations), and in the short-term treatment of hyperactive children who show excessive motor activity with accompanying conduct disorders consisting of some or all of the following symptoms: impulsivity, difficulty sustaining attention, aggressivity, mood lability and poor frustration tolerance.

Dosage and Administration

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION – ADULTS Adjust dosage to individual and the severity of his condition, recognizing that the milligram for milligram potency relationship among all dosage forms has not been precisely established clinically. It is important to increase dosage until symptoms are controlled. Dosage should be increased more gradually in debilitated or emaciated patients. In continued therapy, gradually reduce dosage to the lowest effective maintenance level, after symptoms have been controlled for a reasonable period. The 100 mg and 200 mg tablets are for use in severe neuropsychiatric conditions. Elderly Patients - In general, dosages in the lower range are sufficient for most elderly patients. Since they appear to be more susceptible to hypotension and neuromuscular reactions, such patients should be observed closely. Dosage should be tailored to the individual, response carefully monitored, and dosage adjusted accordingly. Dosage should be increased more gradually in elderly patients. Psychotic Disorders - Increase dosage gradually until symptoms are controlled. Maximum improvement may not be seen for weeks or even months. Continue optimum dosage for 2 weeks; then gradually reduce dosage to the lowest effective maintenance level. Daily dosage of 200 mg is not unusual. Some patients require higher dosages (e.g., 800 mg daily is not uncommon in discharged mental patients). Hospitalized Patients: Acute Schizophrenic or Manic States - It is recommended that initial treatment be with chlorpromazine HCl injection until patient is controlled. Usually patient becomes quiet and co-operative within 24 to 48 hours and oral doses may be substituted and increased until the patient is calm. 500 mg a day is generally sufficient. While gradual increases to 2,000 mg a day or more may be necessary, there is usually little therapeutic gain to be achieved by exceeding 1,000 mg a day for extended periods. In general, dosage levels should be lower in the elderly, the emaciated and the debilitated. Less Acutely Disturbed - 25 mg t.i.d. Increase gradually until effective dose is reached – usually 400 mg daily. Outpatients - 10 mg t.i.d. or q.i.d., or 25 mg b.i.d. or t.i.d. More Severe Cases - 25 mg t.i.d. After 1 or 2 days, daily dosage may be increased by 20 to 50 mg at semi-weekly intervals until patient becomes calm and cooperative. Prompt Control of Severe Symptoms - Initial treatment should be with intramuscular chlorpromazine. Subsequent doses should be oral, 25 to 50 mg t.i.d. Nausea and Vomiting - 10 to 25 mg q4 to 6h, p.r.n., increased, if necessary. Presurgical Apprehension - 25 to 50 mg, 2 to 3 hours before the operation. Intractable Hiccups - 25 to 50 mg t.i.d. or q.i.d. If symptoms persist for 2 to 3 days, parenteral therapy is indicated. Acute Intermittent Porphyria - 25 to 50 mg t.i.d. or q.i.d. Can usually be discontinued after several weeks, but maintenance therapy may be necessary for some patients. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION – PEDIATRIC...

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

ADVERSE REACTIONS Note: Some adverse effects of chlorpromazine may be more likely to occur, or occur with greater intensity, in patients with special medical problems, e.g., patients with mitral insufficiency or pheochromocytoma have experienced severe hypotension following recommended doses. Drowsiness: Usually mild to moderate, may occur, particularly during the first or second week, after which it generally disappears. If troublesome, dosage may be lowered. Jaundice: Overall incidence has been low, regardless of indication or dosage. Most investigators conclude it is a sensitivity reaction. Most cases occur between the second and fourth weeks of therapy. The clinical picture resembles infectious hepatitis, with laboratory features of obstructive jaundice, rather than those of parenchymal damage. It is usually promptly reversible on withdrawal of the medication; however, chronic jaundice has been reported. There is no conclusive evidence that preexisting liver disease makes patients more susceptible to jaundice. Alcoholics with cirrhosis have been successfully treated with chlorpromazine without complications. Nevertheless, the medication should be used cautiously in patients with liver disease. Patients who have experienced jaundice with a phenothiazine should not, if possible, be reexposed to chlorpromazine or other phenothiazines. If fever with grippe-like symptoms occurs, appropriate liver studies should be conducted. If tests indicate an abnormality, stop treatment. Liver function tests in jaundice induced by the drug may mimic extrahepatic obstruction; withhold exploratory laparotomy until extrahepatic obstruction is confirmed. Hematological Disorders: Including agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenic purpura and pancytopenia have been reported. Agranulocytosis - Warn patients to report the sudden appearance of sore throat or other signs of infection. If white blood cell and differential counts indicate cellular depression, stop treatment and start antibiotic and other suitable therapy. Most cases have occurred between the fourth and tenth weeks of therapy; patients should be watched closely during that period. Moderate suppression of white blood cells is not an indication for stopping treatment unless accompanied by the symptoms described above. Cardiovascular: Hypotensive Effects - Postural hypotension, simple tachycardia, momentary fainting and dizziness may occur rarely, after the first oral dose. Usually recovery is spontaneous and symptoms disappear within ½ to 2 hours. Occasionally, these effects may be more severe and prolonged, producing a shock-like condition. To control hypotension, place patient in head-low position with legs raised. If a vasoconstrictor is required, norepinephrine and phenylephrine are the most suitable. Other pressor agents, including epinephrine, should not be used as they may cause a paradoxical further lowering of blood pressure. EKG Changes - Particularly nonspecific, usually reversible Q and T wave distortions - have been observed in some patients receiving phenothiazine tranquilizers, including chlorpromazine. Note: Sudden death, apparently due to cardiac arrest, has been reported. CNS Reactions: Extrapyramidal Symptoms - Neuromuscular reactions include dystonias, motor restlessness, pseudo-parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia, and appear to be dose-related. They are discussed in the following paragraphs: Dystonia: Class effect: Symptoms of dystonia, prolonged abnormal contractions of muscle groups, may occur in susceptible individuals during the first few days of treatment. Dystonic symptoms include: spasm of the neck muscles, sometimes progressing to tightness of the throat, swallowing difficulty, difficulty breathing, and/or protrusion of the tongue. While these symptoms can occur at low doses, they occur more frequently and with greater severity with high potency and at higher doses of first generation antipsychotic drugs....

Warnings and Precautions

WARNINGS Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see BOXED WARNING] . The extrapyramidal symptoms which can occur secondary to chlorpromazine may be confused with the central nervous system signs of an undiagnosed primary disease responsible for the vomiting, e.g., Reye's syndrome or other encephalopathy. The use of chlorpromazine and other potential hepatotoxins should be avoided in children and adolescents whose signs and symptoms suggest Reye's syndrome. Tardive Dyskinesia: Tardive dyskinesia, a syndrome consisting of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements, may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. Although the prevalence of the syndrome appears to be highest among the elderly, especially elderly women, it is impossible to rely upon prevalence estimates to predict, at the inception of antipsychotic treatment, which patients are likely to develop the syndrome. Whether antipsychotic drug products differ in their potential to cause tardive dyskinesia is unknown. Both the risk of developing the syndrome and the likelihood that it will become irreversible are believed to increase as the duration of treatment and the total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs administered to the patient increase. However, the syndrome can develop, although much less commonly, after relatively brief treatment periods at low doses. There is no known treatment for established cases of tardive dyskinesia, although the syndrome may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn. Antipsychotic treatment itself, however, may suppress (or partially suppress) the signs and symptoms of the syndrome and therapy may possibly mask the underlying disease process. The effect that symptomatic suppression has upon the long-term course of the syndrome is unknown. Given these considerations, antipsychotics should be prescribed in a manner that is most likely to minimize the occurrence of tardive dyskinesia. Chronic antipsychotic treatment should generally be reserved for patients who suffer from a chronic illness that, 1) is known to respond to antipsychotic drugs, and, 2) for whom alternative, equally effective, but potentially less harmful treatments are not available or appropriate. In patients who do require chronic treatment, the smallest dose and the shortest duration of treatment producing a satisfactory clinical response should be sought. The need for continued treatment should be reassessed periodically. If signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia appear in a patient on antipsychotics, drug discontinuation should be considered. However, some patients may require treatment despite the presence of the syndrome. For further information about the description of...

Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATIONS Do not use in patients with known hypersensitivity to phenothiazines. Do not use in comatose states or in the presence of large amounts of central nervous system depressants (alcohol, barbiturates, narcotics, etc.).

Overdosage

OVERDOSAGE [See also ADVERSE REACTIONS ] . Symptoms Primarily symptoms of central nervous system depression to the point of somnolence or coma. Hypotension and extrapyramidal symptoms. Other possible manifestations include agitation and restlessness, convulsions, fever, autonomic reactions such as dry mouth and ileus. EKG changes and cardiac arrhythmias. Treatment It is important to determine other medications taken by the patient since multiple drug therapy is common in overdosage situations. Treatment is essentially symptomatic and supportive. Early gastric lavage is helpful. Keep patient under observation and maintain an open airway, since involvement of the extrapyramidal mechanism may produce dysphagia and respiratory difficulty in severe overdosage. Do not attempt to induce emesis because a dystonic reaction of the head or neck may develop that could result in aspiration of vomitus. Extrapyramidal symptoms may be treated with anti-parkinsonism drugs, barbiturates, or diphenhydramine hydrochloride. See prescribing information for these products. Care should be taken to avoid increasing respiratory depression. If administration of a stimulant is desirable, amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, or caffeine with sodium benzoate is recommended. Stimulants that may cause convulsions (e.g., picrotoxin or pentylenetetrazol) should be avoided. If hypotension occurs, the standard measures for managing circulatory shock should be initiated. If it is desirable to administer a vasoconstrictor, norepinephrine and phenylephrine are most suitable. Other pressor agents, including epinephrine, are not recommended because phenothiazine derivatives may reverse the usual elevating action of these agents and cause a further lowering of blood pressure. Limited experience indicates that phenothiazines are not dialyzable.

How Supplied

HOW SUPPLIED Chlorpromazine hydrochloride tablets USP, 10 mg are round, white to off-white colored, biconvex, film-coated tablets, imprinted with “J” on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied as follows: Bottles of 100 tablets with child-resistant closure, NDC 62332-735-31 Bottles of 1000 tablets, NDC 62332-735-91 Unit dose cartons of 100 tablets, 10 blisters of 10 tablets each, NDC 62332-735-10 Chlorpromazine hydrochloride tablets USP, 25 mg are round, white to off-white colored, biconvex, film-coated tablets, imprinted with “J2” on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied as follows: Bottles of 100 tablets with child-resistant closure, NDC 62332-736-31 Bottles of 1000 tablets, NDC 62332-736-91 Unit dose cartons of 100 tablets, 10 blisters of 10 tablets each, NDC 62332-736-10 Chlorpromazine hydrochloride tablets USP, 50 mg are round, brown colored, biconvex, film-coated tablets, imprinted with “J3” on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied as follows: Bottles of 100 tablets with child-resistant closure, NDC 62332-737-31 Bottles of 1000 tablets, NDC 62332-737-91 Unit dose cartons of 100 tablets, 10 blisters of 10 tablets each, NDC 62332-737-10 THE TABLET STRENGTHS LISTED BELOW ARE FOR USE ONLY IN SEVERE NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride tablets USP, 100 mg are round, brown colored, biconvex, film-coated tablets, imprinted with “J4” on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied as follows: Bottles of 100 tablets with child-resistant closure, NDC 62332-738-31 Bottles of 1000 tablets, NDC 62332-738-91 Unit dose cartons of 100 tablets, 10 blisters of 10 tablets each, NDC 62332-738-10 Chlorpromazine hydrochloride tablets USP, 200 mg are round, brown colored, biconvex, film-coated tablets, imprinted with “J5” on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied as follows: Bottles of 100 tablets with child-resistant closure, NDC 62332-739-31 Bottles of 1000 tablets, NDC...

About This Information

This drug information is sourced from FDA-approved labeling via the openFDA database. It is intended for educational and reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about medication. Drug information may be updated by the FDA; check with your pharmacist for the most current information.

What are side effects?

Side effects are unwanted reactions that can occur when taking a medication. They range from mild (headache, nausea) to severe (allergic reactions, organ damage). Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity varies. Report any concerning side effects to your doctor.

What are drug interactions?

Drug interactions occur when a medication is affected by another drug, food, or supplement. Interactions can make medications less effective or cause dangerous side effects. Always tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you take.