What is trifluoperazine?
Trifluoperazine is an anti-psychotic medication in a group of drugs called phenothiazines
(FEEN-oh-THYE-a-zeens). It works by changing the actions of chemicals in your brain.
Trifluoperazine is used to treat anxiety or psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
Trifluoperazine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking trifluoperazine?
Trifluoperazine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Trifluoperazine
may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
Do not use trifluoperazine if you have liver disease, brain damage, bone marrow
depression, a blood cell disorder (such as low platelets or low red or white blood cell counts), or if you
are also using large amounts of alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy. Do not use if you are
allergic to trifluoperazine or other phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine
(Permitil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro), promethazine (Adgan,
Pentazine, Phenergan), or thioridazine (Mellaril).
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use
this medication. Before you take trifluoperazine, tell your doctor if you have:
-
heart disease high blood pressure, or angina (chest pain);
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severe asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problem;
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glaucoma;
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a history of seizures;
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adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma);
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Parkinson's disease;
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enlarged prostate or urination problems;
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low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia);
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past or present breast cancer; or
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if you have ever had a serious side effect while using
trifluoperazine or another phenothiazine.
Tell your doctor if you will be exposed to extreme heat or cold, or to
insecticide poisons while you are taking trifluoperazine.
It is not known whether trifluoperazine will harm an unborn baby. Trifluoperazine may
cause side effects in a newborn if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Do not take this
medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become
pregnant while taking trifluoperazine.
Trifluoperazine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medication.
Talk with your doctor before giving this medication to a child who has been ill with a fever or flu
symptoms.
How should I take trifluoperazine?
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or
for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this
medication.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while taking
trifluoperazine.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any
doctor who treats you that you are using trifluoperazine.
If you need to have an x-ray or CT scan of your spinal column using a dye that is injected into a
vein, you may need to temporarily stop taking trifluoperazine. Be sure the doctor knows ahead of time
that you are using this medication.
Do not stop using trifluoperazine suddenly after long-term use, or you could have
unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or feeling shaky. Talk to your
doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using trifluoperazine.
Store trifluoperazine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose of trifluoperazine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait
until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not
take extra medicine
to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about trifluoperazine?
Your pharmacist has information about trifluoperazine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of trifluoperazine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using trifluoperazine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such
as:
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twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue,
face, arms, or legs;
-
tremor (uncontrolled shaking), drooling, trouble
swallowing, problems with balance or walking;
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feeling restless, jittery, or agitated;
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high fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or
uneven heartbeats, rapid breathing;
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feeling like you might pass out;
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decreased night vision, tunnel vision, watery eyes, increased
sensitivity to light;
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seizure (black-out or convulsions);
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nausea and stomach pain, skin rash, and jaundice
(yellowing of the skin or eyes);
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urinating less than usual or not at all;
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pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, fever, sore throat, flu
symptoms;
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joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle
aches, chest pain, vomiting, unusual thoughts or behavior, and patchy skin color; or
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slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing
(breathing may stop).
Less serious side effects may include:
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dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety;
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sleep problems (insomnia);
-
blurred vision, headache;
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dry mouth, stuffy nose;
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constipation;
-
breast swelling or discharge;
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a missed menstrual period;
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weight gain, swelling in your hands or feet;
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mild itching or skin rash; or
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impotence, trouble having an orgasm.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your
doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about trifluoperazine?
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have twitching or
uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs. These could be early signs of
dangerous side effects.
Trifluoperazine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Trifluoperazine
may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
Do not use trifluoperazine if you have liver disease, brain damage, bone marrow
depression, a blood cell disorder (such as low platelets or low red or white blood cell counts), or if you
are also using large amounts of alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy. Do not use if you are
allergic to trifluoperazine or other phenothiazines.
Before you take trifluoperazine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure,
angina (chest pain), severe asthma or breathing problems, glaucoma, a history of seizures, adrenal gland
tumor, Parkinson's disease, enlarged prostate or urination problems, low levels of calcium in your
blood, past or present breast cancer, or if you have ever had a serious side effect while using
trifluoperazine or similar medicines.
Before taking trifluoperazine,
tell your doctor about all other medications you use.
What should I avoid while taking trifluoperazine?
Trifluoperazine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful
if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid getting up too fast from a
sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of trifluoperazine.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Trifluoperazine can make your skin more
sensitive to sunlight, and a sunburn may result. Wear sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and protective
clothing if you must be outdoors.
What other drugs will affect trifluoperazine?
Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers,
and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can interact with trifluoperazine and cause medical
problems or increase side effects. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any
other anti-psychotic medications.
Also tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
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atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine);
-
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
-
phenytoin (Dilantin);
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an antibiotic;
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birth control pills or hormone replacement estrogens;
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
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certain asthma medications or bronchodilators;
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a diuretic (water pill);
-
drugs to treat high blood pressure or a prostate disorder,
such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), terazosin (Hytrin),
tamsulosin (Flomax);
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incontinence medications;
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insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;
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medication for nausea, vomiting, or motion sickness;
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medications to treat or prevent malaria;
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medications used for general anesthesia;
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medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection;
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numbing medicine such as lidocaine or Novocain;
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a stimulant or ADHD medication;
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ulcer or irritable bowel medications; or
-
medicines to treat Parkinson's disease, restless leg
syndrome, or pituitary gland tumor (prolactinoma).
This list is not complete and there are many other medicines
that can interact with trifluoperazine.
Tell your doctor about all your prescription and
over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the
medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
What happens if I have an overdose of trifluoperazine?
