From the Guidelines
Chlorpromazine is primarily used as an antipsychotic medication.
Uses of Chlorpromazine
- It is used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders 1.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, haloperidol or chlorpromazine should be routinely offered as antipsychotic medicines, with second-generation antipsychotics as an alternative if availability and cost are not a constraint 1.
- The minimum daily dose of chlorpromazine is recommended to be 600mg per day, determined using established conversion ratios 1.
- Chlorpromazine is a low-potency antipsychotic agent, which tends to produce more anticholinergic side effects, such as sedation and potential deficits in memory, rather than extrapyramidal symptoms 1.
- However, it is not recommended for use in treating behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, due to its limited positive effect and potential to cause significant harm 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
General Given the likelihood that some patients exposed chronically to antipsychotics will develop tardive dyskinesia, it is advised that all patients in whom chronic use is contemplated be given, if possible, full information about this risk Chlorpromazine should be administered cautiously to persons with cardiovascular, liver or renal disease Because of its CNS depressant effect, chlorpromazine should be used with caution in patients with chronic respiratory disorders such as severe asthma, emphysema and acute respiratory infections, particularly in children (1 to 12 years of age). Antiemetic Effect: The antiemetic action of chlorpromazine may mask the signs and symptoms of overdosage of other drugs and may obscure the diagnosis and treatment of other conditions such as intestinal obstruction, brain tumor and Reye's syndrome.
The use of chlorpromazine is as an antipsychotic and antiemetic agent.
- Key uses include:
- Treatment of patients with chronic schizophrenia
- Management of severe behavioral problems in children
- Treatment of emesis (vomiting)
- Management of anxiety and insomnia in patients with various conditions However, the provided text does not explicitly state all the uses of chlorpromazine, and the information provided is mostly about the precautions and side effects of the medication 2 2.
From the Research
Use of Chlorpromazine
- Chlorpromazine is a typical antipsychotic drug used for the treatment of schizophrenia 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- It is one of the most widely used antipsychotic drugs and has been used as a 'gold standard' to compare the efficacy of older and newer antipsychotic drugs 3
- Chlorpromazine has been shown to be effective in promoting global improvement in people with schizophrenia, although it can cause significant adverse effects such as sedation, extrapyramidal symptoms, and low blood pressure 4
- The dosage of chlorpromazine has changed over the years, with lower doses now being the preferred choice, although this change was based on clinical experience and consensus rather than trial-based evidence 6
Clinical Introduction and History
- Chlorpromazine was first synthesized in 1950 and was introduced in anaesthesiology and psychiatry in the early 1950s 7
- The discovery of chlorpromazine's antipsychotic properties was a fundamental event for the practice of psychiatry and led to the "psychopharmacological revolution" 7
- The introduction of chlorpromazine in the USA was more difficult due to the strong psychoanalytic tradition, but it was eventually consolidated as a neuroleptic therapy in 1955 7
Comparison with Other Antipsychotic Drugs
- Chlorpromazine has been compared to atypical antipsychotic drugs such as olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine in several studies 3
- The results of these studies suggest that chlorpromazine may be as effective as these newer drugs in some cases, although it can cause more extrapyramidal symptoms 3
- The choice of antipsychotic drug and dosage should be based on individual patient needs and circumstances, and should take into account the potential benefits and risks of each treatment option 6