DrugindexOnline^{2nd edition}

Generic Name: Chlorpromazine Oral Concentrate (klor-PROE-ma-zeen)
Brand Name: Generic only. No brands available.

Chlorpromazine Concentrate is used for:

Treating certain mental or mood disorders (eg, schizophrenia), the manic phase of manic-depressive disorder, anxiety and restlessness before surgery, porphyria, severe behavioral and conduct disorders in children, nausea and vomiting, and severe hiccups. It is also used with other medicines to treat symptoms associated with tetanus. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Chlorpromazine Concentrate is a phenothiazine. It works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. This helps to treat certain mental disorders or prevents or reduces nausea and vomiting caused by medicines, chemicals, and some diseases.

Do NOT use Chlorpromazine Concentrate if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Chlorpromazine Concentrate or similar medicines (eg, phenothiazines)
• you have recently taken large amounts of alcohol or CNS depressant medicines, such as barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital) or narcotic pain medicines (eg, codeine)
• you have bone marrow problems or you are taking astemizole, certain antiarrhythmic agents (eg, quinidine), cisapride, dofetilide, a ketolide antibiotic (eg, telithromycin), a macrolide antibiotic (eg, erythromycin), pergolide, pimozide, a streptogramin (eg, dalfopristin), terfenadine, or ziprasidone

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Chlorpromazine Concentrate:

Some medical conditions may interact with Chlorpromazine Concentrate. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of heart problems, low blood pressure, blood problems, liver problems (eg, cirrhosis), kidney problems, enlarged prostate gland, seizures or epilepsy, Parkinson disease, or Reye syndrome
• if you have asthma, lung infection, or other lung problems (eg, emphysema); increased pressure in the eyes; glaucoma; or if you are at risk for glaucoma
• if you have a history of alcohol abuse or if you consume more than 3 alcoholic drinks per day

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Chlorpromazine Concentrate. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Thiazide diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide) because they may increase the risk of Chlorpromazine Concentrate's side effects
• Arsenic, astemizole, beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), certain antiarrhythmic agents (eg, quinidine), cisapride, dofetilide, droperidol, epinephrine, haloperidol, ketolides (eg, telithromycin), macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), pimozide, quinolone antibiotics (eg, ciprofloxacin), streptogramins (eg, quinupristin), terfenadine, or ziprasidone because the risk of side effects, such as racing heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, and life-threatening irregular heartbeat leading to unconsciousness, may be increased by Chlorpromazine Concentrate
• Anticholinergics (eg, atropine) because they may decrease Chlorpromazine Concentrate's effectiveness
• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), or narcotic pain medicines (eg, codeine) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Chlorpromazine Concentrate
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), guanethidine, and pergolide because their effectiveness may be decreased by Chlorpromazine Concentrate

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Chlorpromazine Concentrate may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Chlorpromazine Concentrate:

Use Chlorpromazine Concentrate as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Chlorpromazine Concentrate by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• Use a measuring device marked for medicine dosing. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure your dose.
• Mix your dose in water or juice just before taking it. You may mix Chlorpromazine Concentrate with tomato or fruit juice, milk, simple syrup, orange syrup, carbonated beverages, coffee, tea, or water. Semisolid foods (eg, soups, puddings) may also be used.
• If you miss a dose of Chlorpromazine Concentrate, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Chlorpromazine Concentrate.

Important safety information:

• Chlorpromazine Concentrate may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Chlorpromazine Concentrate with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Chlorpromazine Concentrate; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
• Chlorpromazine Concentrate may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
• Do not become overheated in hot weather or while you are being active; heatstroke may occur.
• Chlorpromazine Concentrate may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Chlorpromazine Concentrate. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.
• Some patients who take Chlorpromazine Concentrate may develop muscle movements that they cannot control. This is more likely to happen in elderly patients, especially women. The chance that this will happen or that it will become permanent is greater in those who take Chlorpromazine Concentrate in higher doses or for a long time. Muscle problems may also occur after short-term treatment with low doses. Tell your doctor at once if you have muscle problems with your arms; legs; or your tongue, face, mouth, or jaw (eg, tongue sticking out, puffing of cheeks, mouth puckering, chewing movements) while taking Chlorpromazine Concentrate.
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a possibly fatal syndrome that can be caused by Chlorpromazine Concentrate. Symptoms may include fever; stiff muscles; confusion; abnormal thinking; fast or irregular heartbeat; and sweating. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Chlorpromazine Concentrate before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Lab tests, including liver function tests and eye exams, may be performed while you use Chlorpromazine Concentrate. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Chlorpromazine Concentrate with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness, lightheadedness (especially upon standing), rapid heartbeat, breathing problems, urinary retention, and constipation.
• Chlorpromazine Concentrate should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 6 months old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Chlorpromazine Concentrate while you are pregnant. Chlorpromazine Concentrate is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Chlorpromazine Concentrate.

If you suddenly stop taking Chlorpromazine Concentrate, you may experience WITHDRAWAL symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and tremors.

Possible side effects of Chlorpromazine Concentrate:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Agitation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; enlarged pupils; jitteriness; nausea; stuffy nose.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); changes in menstrual period; changes in sexual ability; dark urine; difficulty swallowing; drooling; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; involuntary movements or spasms of the arms and legs, tongue, face, mouth, or jaw; mask-like face; muscle restlessness; prolonged or painful erection; restlessness; seizures; shuffling walk; sleeplessness; stiff or rigid muscles; stomach pain; sweating; trouble urinating; unusual eye movements or inability to move eyes; unusual mood or mental changes, including lack of response to your surroundings; vision changes; weakness of arms or legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center ( http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include deep sleep or loss of consciousness; muscle spasms; restlessness; seizures; tremors; twitching.

Proper storage of Chlorpromazine Concentrate:

Store Chlorpromazine Concentrate at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Chlorpromazine Concentrate out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Chlorpromazine Concentrate, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Chlorpromazine Concentrate is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
• If using Chlorpromazine Concentrate for an extended period of time, obtain refills before your supply runs out.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Chlorpromazine Concentrate. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.