Thorazine

What you should know before using

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

Certain side effects, such as muscle spasms of the face, neck, and back, tic-like or twitching movements, inability to move the eyes, twisting of the body, or weakness of the arms and legs, are more likely to occur in children, especially those with severe illness or dehydration. Children are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of phenothiazines.

Geriatric

Constipation, trouble urinating, dryness of mouth, confusion, problems with memory, dizziness or fainting, drowsiness, trembling of the hands and fingers, and problems with muscle movement, such as decreased or unusual movements, are especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of phenothiazines.

Although studies have not been done in pregnant women, some side effects, such as jaundice and movement disorders, have occurred in a few newborns whose mothers received phenothiazines during pregnancy. Studies in animals have shown that, when given to the mother during pregnancy, these medicines can decrease the number of successful pregnancies and cause problems with bone development in the offspring. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast Feeding

Phenothiazines pass into breast milk and may cause drowsiness or unusual muscle movements in the nursing baby. It may be necessary for you to take a different medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Drug Interactions

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Acecainide
• Acetylcholine
• Ajmaline
• Amiodarone
• Amisulpride
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Aprindine
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Astemizole
• Azimilide
• Bepridil
• Bretylium
• Chloral Hydrate
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Cisapride
• Clarithromycin
• Clorgyline
• Desipramine
• Dibenzepin
• Diethylpropion
• Disopyramide
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Doxepin
• Droperidol
• Duloxetine
• Encainide
• Enflurane
• Erythromycin
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Fluoxetine
• Fluvoxamine
• Foscarnet
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Grepafloxacin
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Halothane
• Hydroquinidine
• Ibutilide
• Imipramine
• Iopamidol
• Iproniazid
• Isocarboxazid
• Isoflurane
• Isradipine
• Ketanserin
• Levofloxacin
• Levomethadyl
• Lidoflazine
• Lorcainide
• Lubeluzole
• Mefloquine
• Mesoridazine
• Methadone
• Moclobemide
• Moxifloxacin
• Nialamide
• Nortriptyline
• Octreotide
• Ondansetron
• Paliperidone
• Pargyline
• Paroxetine
• Pentamidine
• Phenelzine
• Pimozide
• Pindolol
• Pirmenol
• Prajmaline
• Probucol
• Procainamide
• Procaterol
• Prochlorperazine
• Propafenone
• Propranolol
• Protriptyline
• Quetiapine
• Quinidine
• Ranolazine
• Risperidone
• Roxithromycin
• Selegiline
• Sematilide
• Sertindole
• Sotalol
• Sparfloxacin
• Spiramycin
• Sulfamethoxazole
• Sultopride
• Tedisamil
• Telithromycin
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine
• Toloxatone
• Tranylcypromine
• Trifluoperazine
• Trimethoprim
• Trimipramine
• Vasopressin
• Venlafaxine
• Ziprasidone
• Zolmitriptan
• Zotepine

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acecainide
• Ajmaline
• Amiodarone
• Amisulpride
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Amphetamine
• Aprindine
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Astemizole
• Azimilide
• Bretylium
• Chloral Hydrate
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Clarithromycin
• Darifenacin
• Desipramine
• Dibenzepin
• Disopyramide
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Doxepin
• Droperidol
• Encainide
• Enflurane
• Erythromycin
• Fentanyl
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Fluoxetine
• Foscarnet
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Halothane
• Hydroquinidine
• Ibutilide
• Imipramine
• Isoflurane
• Isradipine
• Levofloxacin
• Levomethadyl
• Levorphanol
• Lidoflazine
• Lithium
• Lorcainide
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• Metrizamide
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Moxifloxacin
• Nortriptyline
• Octreotide
• Oxycodone
• Paliperidone
• Pentamidine
• Pimozide
• Pirmenol
• Prajmaline
• Probucol
• Procainamide
• Procarbazine
• Prochlorperazine
• Propafenone
• Quetiapine
• Quinidine
• Risperidone
• Sematilide
• Sertindole
• Sotalol
• Spiramycin
• Succinylcholine
• Sulfamethoxazole
• Sultopride
• Tedisamil
• Telithromycin
• Tramadol
• Trifluoperazine
• Trimethoprim
• Trimipramine
• Vasopressin
• Ziprasidone
• Zolmitriptan
• Zotepine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood disease or
• Breast cancer or
• Difficult urination or
• Glaucoma or
• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• Parkinson's disease or
• Seizure disorders, or history of or
• Stomach ulcers—Phenothiazines may make the condition worse.

• Brain damage or
• Blood vessel disease in the brain—Serious increase in body temperature may occur.

• Liver disease—Phenothiazines may make the condition worse. Higher blood levels of phenothiazines may occur, increasing the chance of having unwanted effects.

• Lung disease—Difficulty in breathing may become more severe. Decrease in cough reflex caused by phenothiazines may increase the risk of developing complications, such as pneumonia.

• Pheochromocytoma or
• Kidney disease—Severe low blood pressure may occur.

• Reye's syndrome—The risk that the phenothiazine will have unwanted effects on the liver may be increased.