Generic name: Chlorpromazine Injection [ klor-PROE-ma-zeen ]
Brand name: Thorazine
Drug classes: Phenothiazine antiemetics, Phenothiazine antipsychotics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 8, 2024.

Uses of Chlorpromazine Injection:

• It is used to treat hiccups.
• It is used to treat tetanus.
• It is used to treat problems with how one acts.
• It is used to treat acute intermittent porphyria.
• It is used to treat mania.
• It is used to treat upset stomach and throwing up.
• It is used to treat schizophrenia.
• It is used to ease anxiety before surgery.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Chlorpromazine Injection?

• If you are allergic to sulfites, talk with your doctor. Some products have sulfites.
• If you are allergic to chlorpromazine injection; any part of chlorpromazine injection; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you are very sleepy.
• If you have recently drunk a lot of alcohol or taken a big amount of drugs that may slow your actions like phenobarbital or some pain drugs like oxycodone.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with chlorpromazine injection.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take chlorpromazine injection with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Chlorpromazine Injection?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take chlorpromazine injection. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how chlorpromazine injection affects you.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking chlorpromazine injection.
• Talk with your doctor before you use other drugs and natural products that slow your actions.
• If you have been taking chlorpromazine injection on a regular basis and you stop it all of a sudden, you may have signs of withdrawal. Do not stop taking chlorpromazine injection all of a sudden without calling your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any bad effects.
• You may get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen and wear clothing and eyewear that protects you from the sun.
• Be careful in hot weather or while being active. Drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.
• If you will be near phosphorous insecticides, talk with your doctor.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take chlorpromazine injection.
• Low white blood cell counts have happened with drugs like this one. This may lead to a higher chance of infection. Rarely, infections have been deadly. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a low white blood cell count. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection like fever, chills, or sore throat.
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
• Tell your doctor if you have signs of high or low blood sugar like breath that smells like fruit, dizziness, fast breathing, fast heartbeat, feeling confused, feeling sleepy, feeling weak, flushing, headache, more thirsty or hungry, passing urine more often, shaking, or sweating.
• Dizziness, sleepiness, and feeling less stable may happen with chlorpromazine injection. These may lead to falling, which can cause broken bones or other health problems.
• An unsafe heartbeat that is not normal (long QT on ECG) has happened with chlorpromazine injection. Sudden deaths have rarely happened in people taking chlorpromazine injection. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may cause the results of some pregnancy tests to be wrong. Talk with the doctor.
• If you are 65 or older, use chlorpromazine injection with care. You could have more side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.
• Taking chlorpromazine injection in the third trimester of pregnancy may lead to uncontrolled muscle movements and withdrawal in the newborn.

How is this medicine (Chlorpromazine Injection) best taken?

Use chlorpromazine injection as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• It is given as a shot into a muscle or vein.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of lupus like a rash on the cheeks or other body parts, sunburn easy, muscle or joint pain, chest pain or shortness of breath, or swelling in the arms or legs.
• Dizziness or passing out.
• Shakiness, trouble moving around, or stiffness.
• Drooling.
• Change in the way you act.
• Seizures.
• Swelling in the arms or legs.
• Change in eyesight.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Enlarged breasts or nipple discharge.
• Ejaculation problems.
• Not able to get or keep an erection.
• For women, no period.
• Trouble passing urine.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Fast or abnormal heartbeat.
• Muscle weakness.
• Restlessness.
• Yellow skin or eyes.
• A very bad and sometimes deadly health problem called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may happen. Call your doctor right away if you have any fever, muscle cramps or stiffness, dizziness, very bad headache, confusion, change in thinking, fast heartbeat, heartbeat that does not feel normal, or are sweating a lot.
• Some people may get a severe muscle problem called tardive dyskinesia. This problem may lessen or go away after stopping chlorpromazine injection, but it may not go away. The risk is greater with diabetes and in older adults, especially older women. The risk is greater with longer use or higher doses, but it may also occur after short-term use with low doses. Call your doctor right away if you have trouble controlling body movements or problems with your tongue, face, mouth, or jaw like tongue sticking out, puffing cheeks, mouth puckering, or chewing.

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What are some other side effects of Chlorpromazine Injection?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Constipation.
• Dry mouth.
• Feeling sleepy.
• Stuffy nose.
• Upset stomach.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Chlorpromazine Injection?

• If you need to store chlorpromazine injection at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about chlorpromazine injection, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Further information

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

Medical Disclaimer