Part of a class of drugs known as "typical
antipsychotics," thioridazine (
Mellaril®) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed to treat
schizophrenia in people who have not responded well to other antipsychotic medications.
Thioridazine was originally manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Although brand-name thioridazine is no longer being made, generic thioridazine is still available. Generic thioridazine is manufactured by several different companies.
How Does Thioridazine Work?
Thioridazine belongs to a group of medications called typical (or first-generation) antipsychotic medications. In particular, it is part of a group of medications called phenothiazines. It is not entirely known exactly how thioridazine works. However, it is known that the drug blocks or lessens the effects of dopamine, a chemical in the brain. Dopamine may be elevated in people with schizophrenia.
Thioridazine is not a cure for schizophrenia. It only helps to control schizophrenia symptoms
(see Symptoms of Schizophrenia).