Largactil

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Dry mouth

Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)

Drowsiness

Agitation

Nasal congestion

Skin rashes

Weight gain

Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)

Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)

Abnormal movements of the hands, legs, face, neck and tongue, eg tremor, twitching, rigidity (extrapyramidal effects)

Decrease in the number of white blood cells in the blood (leucopenia)

High blood prolactin (milk producing hormone) level (hyperprolactinaemia). Sometimes this can lead to symptoms such as breast enlargement, production of milk and stopping of menstrual periods.

Rhythmical involuntary movement of the tongue, face, mouth and jaw, which may sometimes be accompanied by involuntary movements of the arms and legs (tardive dyskinesia)

High temperature combined with falling levels of consciousness, paleness, sweating and a fast heart beat (neuroleptic malignant syndrome). Requires stopping the medicine and immediate medical treatment.

Anxiety, restlessness and agitation (akathisia)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

There may be an increased risk of drowsiness and sedation if chlorpromazine is taken with any of the following (which can also cause drowsiness): - alcohol - tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline - narcotics, eg morphine, codeine - benzodiazepines, eg diazepam - sedating antihistamines, eg chlorpheniramine - sleeping tablets. There may be an increased risk of abnormal heart rhythms (prolonged QT interval on the heart monitoring trace or ECG) if chlorpromazine is taken with any of the following medicines: - antiarrhythmics, eg amiodarone, procainamide, disopyramide, sotalol - antidepressants, eg amitriptyline, imipramine, maprotiline - the anthistamines astemizole or terfenadine - antimalarials, eg halofantrine, chloroquine, quinine - antipsychotics, eg thioridazine, sertindole, haloperidol - intravenous erythromycin or pentamidine - cisapride. Propranolol may increase the blood level of chlorpromazine resulting in an increased risk of adverse effects. Chlorpromazine may increase the effect of blood pressure lowering medicines (antihypertensives), in particular alpha-blocker medicines such as prazosin. This may cause you to feel faint or dizzy. Chlorpromazine may reduce the blood pressure lowering effect of guanethidine. There may be an increased chance of side effects such as dry mouth and constipation if chlorpromazine is taken with other medicines that have anticholinergic effects, including the following: - antispasmodic medicines, eg hyoscine - antihistamines, eg meclozine - anticholinergic medicines for Parkinson's symptoms, eg procyclidine - tricyclic antidepressants - other antipsychotic medicines. Anticholinergic medicines such as procyclidine, which are sometimes used to treat the Parkinson-like side effects of chlorpromazine, may oppose the antipsychotic effect of this medicine. Chlorpromazine may increase blood sugar levels and disturb the control of diabetes. People with diabetes may need an adjustment in the dose of their antidiabetic medication. Lithium may lower the blood levels of chlorpromazine and may therefore reduce its effectiveness. There may also be an increased risk of adverse effects with this combination. Chlorpromazine may oppose the antiparkinson effects of levodopa, and levodopa may oppose the antipsychotic effects of chlorpromazine.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredients

Chlorpromazine

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