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What does it do?

Chlorpromazine is used to treat some mental health problems such as schizophrenia. It is also used for hiccups, nausea and vomiting, and sometimes other conditions.

Before you start

  • Tell your doctor if you have heart, liver, bowel, bladder or prostate problems.
  • Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, angle-closure glaucoma, have ever had a seizure, blood clot, stroke or ‘mini-stroke’, or if you have experienced strange body movements with another medicine.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
  • Your doctor may do a heart test (ECG) before you start and while you are taking chlorpromazine.

How should you take it?

Take chlorpromazine as directed with a glass of water. Do not break or crush the tablets.

What if you forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and carry on as normal. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Can you take other medicines?

Some medicines available without a prescription may react with chlorpromazine including:

  • some antihistamines or anti-nausea medicines such as promethazine (e.g. Phenergan®), hyoscine (e.g. Scopoderm®), meclozine (e.g. Sea-legs®)
  • antacids (e.g. Mylanta®) - do not take these within two hours of taking chlorpromazine.

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products (e.g. St John's wort, valerian) or recreational drugs (e.g. cannabis).

What side effects might you notice?

Side EffectsRecommended action

Fever, stiffness, sweating, confusion

Feeling restless, strange or uncontrolled movements, tremor

Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting

Symptoms of a blood clot including: sudden shortness of breath, swelling or pain in one leg

Seizures

Symptoms of liver problems including: yellow skin or eyes, itching, dark urine, pale bowel motions, abdominal pain

Prolonged erection (longer than four hours)

Tell your doctor immediately

Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation or trouble peeing (anticholinergic effects)

Drowsiness, dizziness

Weight gain

Stomach upset

Changes in periods

Sore or enlarged breasts, breastmilk production

Less interest in sex, impotence

Change in skin colour (blue, grey)

Tell your doctor if troublesome

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

  • Chlorpromazine can impair your ability to do tasks such as driving or using machines. Alcohol makes this worse. Discuss your risk with your health professional. (search NZTA - Are you safe to drive?)
  • Protect yourself from too much sunlight while being treated with chlorpromazine. Always cover up and apply a thick layer of broad spectrum sunscreen (at least SPF 30) when outside. Do not use sunbeds.
  • Smoking can change the effect of chlorpromazine. Tell your doctor if you give up, cut down or start smoking.
  • Chlorpromazine reduces your body’s ability to maintain a normal temperature. Be careful of becoming too cold or too hot. When exercising, drink plenty of water.
  • You have an increased risk of getting diabetes while taking chlorpromazine. Discuss with your doctor.
  • Do not stop taking chlorpromazine without talking to your doctor first.

This leaflet contains important, but not all, information about this medicine.

Prepared by the MyMedicines Committee at Christchurch Hospital, Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha, New Zealand. March 2023

For more general information about this sheet and its contents, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

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About My Medicines

My Medicines Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) contain important, but not all, information about the medicines they describe.

For more information about the sheets, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

My Medicines is developed by a team at Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha. Our team is made up of doctors, pharmacists, and a non-medical person to help us keep to plain language. We also discuss our information with specialist health professionals or groups when needed