Chlorpromazine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 22, 2023.

Applies to chlorpromazine: oral tablets, parenteral injection.

Side effects include:

Extrapyramidal reactions (e.g., Parkinson-like symptoms, dystonia, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia), drowsiness, dizziness, skin reactions or rash, dry mouth, orthostatic hypotension, amenorrhea, galactorrhea, weight gain.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to chlorpromazine: compounding powder, injectable solution, oral capsule extended release, oral concentrate, oral syrup, oral tablet, rectal suppository.

General

The most frequently reported side effects included drowsiness, sedation, dry mouth, and nasal stuffiness.^[Ref]

Hematologic

Very common (10% or more): Mild leukopenia (up to 30%)

Common (1% to 10%): Agranulocytosis, leukopenia, eosinophilia, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia purpura, pancytopenia

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Purpura, leukocytosis, coagulation defects^[Ref]

Nervous system

Common (1% to 10%): Hypertonia, tardive dyskinesia, tardive dystonia, extrapyramidal syndrome, akathisia, parkinsonism, motor restlessness, drowsiness, convulsion/convulsive seizures (petit mal and grand mal), lowering of the seizure threshold, acute dyskinesia or dystonia

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cerebral edema, epileptic fits, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, myasthenia gravis, abnormality of cerebrospinal fluid proteins

Frequency not reported: Lethargy, akinesia, hyperkinesia, autonomic dysfunction, tremor, drooling, pill rolling motion, cogwheel rigidity, shuffling gait, rhythmical involuntary movements of the tongue/face/mouth/jaw, involuntary movements of the extremities, fine vermicular movements of the tongue, dizziness, headache, momentary fainting, pseudo-parkinsonism, mask-like facies

Postmarketing reports: Cerebrovascular adverse events^[Ref]

Acute dystonia and/or dyskinesia typically were transitory, occurring more frequently in children and young adults within the first 4 days of treatment or after dose changes.

Akathisia usually occurred after patients were given large initial doses.

Autonomic dysfunction occurred as a symptom of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Convulsive seizures have occurred more frequently in patients with a history of seizures and/or with EEG abnormalities.

Momentary fainting occurred most commonly in patients after the first injection, with a lower frequency of occurrence in subsequent injections; patients given oral formulations rarely fainted after the initial dose.

Parkinsonism more commonly occurred in adults and elderly patients after weeks to months of treatment.

Sedation and somnolence occurred more frequently at the start of treatment.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Dry mouth, constipation, nausea, obstipation, adynamic ileus, atonic colon

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Paralytic ileus

Postmarketing reports: Ischemic colitis, intestinal perforation/fatal intestinal perforation, gastrointestinal (GI) necrosis/fatal GI necrosis, intestinal obstruction, tongue protrusion, difficulty swallowing, necrotizing colitis/fatal necrotizing colitis^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Altered consciousness occurred as a symptom of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety, mental confusion, agitation, excitement, aggravation of schizophrenic symptoms

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nightmares, dysphoria, catatonic excitement, mental dulling/slowing

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Psychotic symptoms, catatonic-like states

Frequency not reported: Insomnia, altered mood, altered consciousness^[Ref]

Ocular

Common (1% to 10%): Blurred vision, photophobia, corneal/eye deposits, miosis and mydriasis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Optic atrophy, lens opacities, pigmentary retinopathy, precipitation/aggravation of narrow angle glaucoma

Frequency not reported: Oculogyric crisis, ocular changes, accommodation disorder^[Ref]

Accommodation disorder was related to anticholinergic effects of this drug.

Eye deposits occurred in the anterior segment of the eye from drug accumulation; however, the deposits usually did not have impact on sight.^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Common (1% to 10%): Urinary retention/hesitancy, priapism, ejaculation disorders/impotence

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Amenorrhea, incontinence, lactation and moderate breast engorgement (female patients)

Frequency not reported: Galactorrhea, oligomenorrhea, erectile dysfunction, female sexual arousal disorder^[Ref]

Lactation and breast engorgement in female patients occurred with large doses.

Urinary retention was linked to anticholinergic effects of this drug.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Contact dermatitis, photosensitivity/photosensitivity reaction, urticarial/maculopapular/petechial or edematous reaction

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Skin pigmentation, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis

Frequency not reported: Allergic dermatitis, skin rashes

Postmarketing reports: Angioneurotic edema^[Ref]

Metabolic

Common (1% to 10%): Impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia, weight gain

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypoglycemia, water retention

Postmarketing reports: Hypertriglyceridemia, hyponatremia, increased appetite^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Cardiac arrest may be related to dose as well as preexisting conditions (e.g., cardiac disease, old age, hypokalemia, concurrent tricyclic antidepressants).

Hypertensive crisis occurred after abrupt withdrawal of treatment.

Orthostatic hypotension occurred more frequently in elderly and/or volume depleted patients, and was more likely to occur with IM administration.

Sudden cardiac death may be related to causes of cardiac origin.^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Orthostatic/postural hypotension, ECG changes (electrocardiogram QT prolongation, ST depression, U-Wave and T-Wave changes)

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arrhythmias, hypertensive crisis, AV block, ventricular tachycardia/tachycardia, QT prolongation and fibrillation, edema, labile blood pressure

Frequency not reported: Ventricular fibrillation, Torsade de pointes, cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death, profound hypotension, peripheral edema, venous embolism, deep vein thrombosis, cardiac arrhythmias (including ventricular and atrial arrhythmias)^[Ref]

Endocrine

Common (1% to 10%): Hypothalamic effects, hyperprolactinemia/elevated prolactin levels

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Gynecomastia, profuse sweating, false positive pregnancy tests, inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion^[Ref]

Other

Hyperthermia occurred as a symptom of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Mild fevers have occurred in patient who received large doses intramuscularly.

Sudden death may be related to causes of cardiac origin, asphyxia, convulsions, or hyperpyrexia.^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Paradoxical reactions, impaired thermoregulation/temperature regulation disorder

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hyperthermia, hypothermia, malignant hyperpyrexia

Frequency not reported: Sudden death, jitteriness, neonatal drug withdrawal syndrome^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Nasal congestion/stuffiness, respiratory depression

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea

Frequency not reported: Bronchospasm, pulmonary embolism/fatal pulmonary embolism

Postmarketing reports: Asthma, laryngeal edema, throat tightness, asphyxia (failure of the cough reflex)^[Ref]

Local

Common (1% to 10%): Injection site pain, injection abscess

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Contact skin sensitization^[Ref]

Contact sensitization has occurred in individuals who frequently handled this drug.^[Ref]

Immunologic

Common (1% to 10%): Positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cells, antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive/raised ANA titer^[Ref]

Hepatic

Common (1% to 10%): Cholestatic jaundice

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Liver injury, fatal liver injury, cholestatic/hepatocellular or mixed liver injury

Frequency not reported: Progressive hepatic fibrosis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Elevated creatine phosphokinase, muscular rigidity, and myoglobinuria/rhabdomyolysis are symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Rigidity occurred as a symptom of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.^[Ref]

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Elevated creatine phosphokinase, muscular rigidity/rigidity, myoglobinuria/rhabdomyolysis

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Systemic lupus erythematosus

Frequency not reported: Torticollis, trismus

Postmarketing reports: Prolonged, abnormal muscle contractions, neck muscle spasms^[Ref]

Renal

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Glycosuria, acute renal failure^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Severe allergic reactions/allergic reactions

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions

Frequency not reported: Angioedema^[Ref]

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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