Drug Study

Name

General
Considerations

Indication

Mechanism of
action

Generic name:
chlorpromazin
e

Assessment:
History
Allergy to
chlorpromazine;
comatose or
severely
depressed
states, bone
marrow
depression,
circulatory
collapse,
subcortical brain
damage,
Parkinsons
disease, liver
damage, breast
cancer,
arterosclerosis,
severe
hypotension.

Management
of
manifestation
of psychotic
disorder;
control of
manic phase
of manic
depressive
illness.

Blocks
dopamine
receptors in
the brain,
depresses the
RAS;
anticholinergic,
antihistamine
and alphaadrenergic
blocking
activity may
contribute to
some of its
therapeutic
and adverse
reactions.

Trade name:
Thalitone

Physical:
T, weight; skin
color, turgor;

Relieve of
preoperative
restlessness
and
apprehension
.
Adjunct in
treatment of
tetanus.
Acute
intermittent
prophyria
therapy.

Chemical
classes

Administration/
Dosage/
Relief of
symptoms
Patient Dosage:
100 mg, HS

Antipsychotic
Dopaminergic
blocker
Tablets10,25,50,100,20
Anxiolytic
0 mg
Antiemtic
Suppository-100
mg-25 mg/Ml.

Full clinical
antipsychotic
effects may
require 6 week to
6 mo of therapy.
Adult:
Excessive
anxiety, agitation
in psychiatric
patients; 25 mg
IM; may repeat in
1 hr. Increase
dosage gradually
in inpatient, up to

Contraindication
s

Side effects

Contraindicated
with allergy to
chlorpromazine,
comatose or
severely
depressed states,
bone marrow
depression,
circulatory
collapse,
cubcortical brain
damage,
Parkinsons
disease, liver
damage,
Parkinsons
disease, severe
hypotension or
hypertension.

CNS: drowsiness,
sedation, seizures,
dizziness, syncope,
headache, tremor,
disturbed sleep,
nightmares,
restlessness,
agitation, increased
salivation,
sweating, tardive
dyskinesia,
neuroleptic
malignant
syndrome

Use cautiously
with respiratory
disorder;
glaucoma;
epilepsy; peptic

CV: tachycardia,
hypotension,
hypertension, ECG
changes, potentially
fatal myocarditis
GI: nausea,
vomiting,
constipation,
abdominal

reflexes,
orientation, IOP,
opthalmologic
examination; P,
BP, orthostatic
BP, ECG; R,
adventitious
sounds; bowel
sounds, normal
output, liver
evaluation,
prostates
palpation,
normal urine
output, CBC;
urinalysis,
thyroid, LFTs ,
renal function
test, EEG.

40 mg every 4-6
hours. Switch to
oral dosage
asap, 25-50 mg
PO tid for outpatient.
Pediatrics
Generally not
used in children
younger than 6
mo.
Psychiatric
outpatient: 0.5
mg/kg rectally
every 6-8 hours,
not to exceed 40
mg/day (up to 5
years) or 75
mg/day (5-a2
years).
Psychiatric
inpatient: 50-100
mg/day PO;
maximum of 40
mg/day IM for
children up to 5
years; maximum
of 75 mg/day.

ulcer, decrease
renal function;
prostate
hypertrophy;
breast cancer;
exposure to heat,
phosphorus
insecticides,
children with
chickenpox.

discomfort, dry
mouth
GU: urinary
abnormalities
Hematologic:
Leucopenia,
agranulocytosis
Other: fever, weight
gain, rash,
development of
diabetes mellitus.
Nursing
Intervention
Do not give by
subcutaneous
injection; give
slowly by deep IM
injection into upper
quadrant of
buttocks.
Keep patient
recumbent for 30
minutes after
injection to avoid
orthostatic
hypotension.

If giving drug via

continuous infusion
for intractable
hiccups, keep
patient flat in bed
during infusion and
monitor BP.
Avoid skin contact
with parenteral
drugs solution to
due to possible
contact dermatitis.
Collaborative:
Patient of patients
guardian should be
advised about the
possibility of tardive
dyskinesia.
Be alert to potential
for aspiration
because of
suppressed cough
reflex.
Monitor renal
function test;
discontinue if
serum creatinine or
BUN becomes

abnormal.
Monitor CBC;
discontinue if WBC
count is depressed.