CHLORPROTHIXENE

Brand & Generic Names

Taractan

Tarasan

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Tranquilizer (thioxanthene), antiemetic

Uses

• Reduces anxiety, agitation, psychosis.
• Stops vomiting, hiccups.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet or sustained-release capsule--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.
Syrup--Dilute dose in beverage before swallowing.

When to take:
At the same time each day.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Corrects imbalance of nerve impulses.

Time lapse before drug works:
3 weeks.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, muscle rigidity, twitching, tremors, confusion, dry mouth, blurred vision, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, low blood pressure, convulsions, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• If patient is unconscious and not breathing, give mouth-to- mouth breathing. If there is no heartbeat, use cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth breathing (CPR). Don't try to make patient vomit. If you can't get help quickly, take patient to nearest emergency facility.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Uncontrollable move- Discontinue. Seek ments of head, neck, emergency treatment. arms, legs (rarely).

Common:

• Fainting; jerky, invol- untary movements; restlessness; blurred vision; rapid heartbeat.
• Dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, muscle spasms, shuffling walk, decreased sweating, increased appetite, weight gain, sensitivity to light.
• Dry mouth, stuffy nose.

Infrequent:

• Rash.
• Less sexual ability, difficult urination.
• Menstrual irregularities, swollen breasts, breast milk secretion.

Rare:

Sore throat, fever, jaundice, abdominal pain, lip smacking, cheek puffing, chewing movements of mouth, heatstroke, unusual bleeding or bruising.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any thioxanthine or phenothiazine tranquilizer.
• You have serious blood disorder.
• You have Parkinson's disease.
• Patient is younger than 12.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had liver or kidney disease.
• If you have epilepsy, glaucoma or prostate trouble.
• If you have high blood pressure or heart disease (especially angina).
• If you use alcohol daily.
• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
Safety not established. Avoid if possible. Consult doctor.

Breast-feeding:
Studies inconclusive. Consult your doctor.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:

• Pigment deposits in lens and retina of eye.
• Involuntary movements of jaws, lips, tongue (tardive dyskinesia).
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit), liver function, eyes.

Skin & sunlight:
May cause rash or intensify sunburn in areas exposed to sun or sunlamp.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.

Others:
Hot temperatures increase chance of heat stroke.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Anticholinergics*	Increased anticholinergic effect.
Anticonvulsants*	Change in seizure pattern.
Antidepressants,	Increased chlor-
tricyclic (TCA)*	prothixene effect. Excessive
	sedation.
Antihistamines*	Increased chlorprothixene effect.
	Excessive sedation.
Antihypertensives*	Excessively low blood pressure.
Barbiturates*	Increased chlorprothixene effect.
	Excessive sedation.
Bethanechol	Decreased bethanechol effect.
Bupropion	Increased risk of major seizures.
Dronabinol	Increased effects of both drugs.
	Avoid.
Epinephrine	Low blood pressure and rapid
	heartbeat.
Guanethidine	Decreased guanethidine effect.
Levodopa	Decreased levodopa effect.
MAO inhibitors*	Excessive sedation.
Mind-altering drugs*	Increased chlorprothixene effect.
	Excessive sedation.
Narcotics*	Increased chlorprothixene effect.
	Excessive sedation.
Pergolide	Decreased pergolide effect.
Procarbazine	Increased sedation.
Sedatives*	Increased chlorprothixene effect.
	Excessive sedation.
Sleep inducers*	Increased chlorprothixene effect.
	Excessive sedation.
Tranquilizers*	Increased chlorprothixene effect.
	Excessive sedation.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Excessive brain depression. Avoid.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	Decreased chlorprothixene effect.
	Avoid.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Daily use--Fainting likely,
	possible psychosis.
Tobacco:	None expected.