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Side Effects of Chlorpromazine
Side effects of chlorpromazine may include nasal congestion, drowsiness, insomnia, and a dry mouth. While side effects of the medication are generally minor and, in most cases, don't need to be reported to a healthcare provider, some problems are more severe. Some serious chlorpromazine side effects that require medical attention include an irregular heart rhythm, muscle tension or contractions, and yellowing of the eyes or skin.
An Introduction to Side Effects of Chlorpromazine
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with chlorpromazine hydrochloride (Thorazine®). However, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate chlorpromazine well. When side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with chlorpromazine. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of chlorpromazine side effects with you.)
Common Side Effects With Chlorpromazine
Chlorpromazine has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are documented and are then compared to side effects that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
In these studies, some common side effects of chlorpromazine included:
- Drowsiness
- Insomnia
- Nasal congestion
- Ejaculation problems
- Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction or ED (see Thorazine Sexual Side Effects)
- Dry mouth (see Thorazine and Dry Mouth)
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation
- Difficulty passing urine
- Blurred vision
- Changes in color, from slight darkening to gray or purple shades.
There have also been reports that chlorpromazine may cause false positive pregnancy tests (a positive pregnancy test in an individual who is not pregnant).
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD