Largactil

How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient chlorpromazine hydrochloride, which is a type of medicine known as an antipsychotic. It belongs to the phenothiazine group of the older 'typical' antipsychotics. It is sometimes described as a neuroleptic or a 'major tranquilliser', though this last term is fairly misleading, as this type of medicine is not just a tranquilliser, but has many actions in a variety of mental illnesses. Chlorpromazine works by blocking a variety of receptors in the brain, particularly dopamine receptors. Dopamine is a natural compound called a neurotransmitter, and is involved in transmitting messages between brain cells. Psychotic illness, and particularly schizophrenia, is considered to be caused by overactivity of dopamine in the brain. Chlorpromazine blocks the receptors that dopamine acts on, and this prevents the overactivity of dopamine in the brain. This helps to control psychotic illness. Chlorpromazine improves disturbed thoughts, feelings and behaviour in various mental conditions, including schizophrenia, mania, and behavioural disorders that involve aggression or severe agitation or excitement. It produces a calming effect and controls aggression, delusions and hallucinations. Chlorpromazine also affects receptors in an area of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting. For this reason, it is sometimes used to provide relief from nausea and vomiting, though only in terminal illness when other available medicines have failed. Chlorpromazine is also effective in treating persistant hiccups, though how it works in this case is unclear.

What is it used for?

Anxiety (short term use)

Childhood autism

Childhood schizophrenia

Moderate to severe agitation, excitement, violent or dangerously impulsive behaviour

Nausea and vomiting in terminal illness (when other medicines are ineffective)

Persistant hiccups

Psychotic illness

Schizophrenia

Treatment of mania and hypomania

Warning!

This medicine may rarely cause a decrease in the normal amounts of blood cells in the blood. For this reason you should consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: unexplained bruising or bleeding, purple spots, sore throat, mouth ulcers, high temperature (fever), feeling tired or general illness. Your doctor may want to take a blood test to check your blood cells.

This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Alcohol should be avoided.

You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience abnormal movements, particularly of the face, lips, jaw and tongue, while taking this medicine. These symptoms may be indicative of a rare side effect known as tardive dyskinesia, and your doctor may ask you to stop taking this medicine, or decrease your dose.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms while taking this medicine: high fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, faster breathing and drowsiness or sleepiness. These symptoms may be due to a rare side effect known as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and your treatment may need to be stopped.

Consult your doctor if you experience yellowing of the eyes or skin, or darkened urine while taking this medicine, as these may be signs of jaundice. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking this medicine if you do develop jaundice.

If you are elderly, this medicine may cause your body temperature to react abnormally in very hot or very cold weather. It may also cause dizziness when rising from a lying or sitting position. Discuss this with your doctor.

Chlorpromazine can cause rare but serious contact skin sensitisation in people who regularly handle the drug. For this reason chlorpromazine tablets should not be broken or crushed and you should avoid any unnecessary contact of the tablets with the skin.

If you are taking a high dose of this medicine your skin may develop a sensitivity to sunlight. For this reason people taking a high dose should avoid sun lamps and direct sunlight. Your doctor or pharmacist may advise you to use a sunscreen.

Use with caution in

Abnormal muscle weakness

Abnormalities in the numbers of blood cells in the blood (blood dyscrasias)

Allergy to phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine and prochlorperazine

Decreased fluid volume in the body, eg due to diuretic therapy, low salt diet, kidney dialysis, diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration

Decreased kidney function

Decreased liver function

Diabetes

Elderly people

Enlarged prostate gland

Epilepsy

Heart disease

Heart failure

History of closed angle glaucoma

Hypothyroidism

Low blood potassium levels (hypokalaemia)

Parkinson's disease

Reduced awareness, slow reactions or drowsiness due to medicines or illness that reduce activity in the central nervous system

Severe disease affecting the airways or lungs

Tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma)

Not to be used in

Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine passes into breast milk and women taking this medicine should therefore not breastfeed. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

Avoid exposure of skin to direct sunlight or sun lamps.

This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.

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