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Thioridazine |
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What is Thioridazine and why is it prescribed? Thioridazine combats the crippling mental disorder known as schizophrenia. Because Thioridazine has been known to cause dangerous heartbeat irregularities, it is usually prescribed only when at least two other medications have failed. The danger of potentially fatal cardiac irregularities increases when Thioridazine is combined with any medication that prolongs a part of the heartbeat known as the QTc interval. Many of the drugs prescribed for heartbeat irregularities (including Cordarone, Inderal, Quinaglute, Quinidex, and Rythmol) prolong the QTc interval and should never be combined with Thioridazine. Other drugs to avoid when taking Thioridazine include Luvox, Norvir, Paxil, Pindolol, Prozac, Rescriptor, and Tagamet. Make sure the doctor knows you are taking Thioridazine whenever a new drug is prescribed. How should you take Thioridazine? Follow your doctors directions for taking Thioridazine. If you are taking Thioridazine in a liquid concentrate form, you can dilute it with a liquid such as distilled water, soft tap water, or juice just before taking it. Do not change from one brand of Thioridazine to another without consulting your doctor. If you miss a dose and you take 1 dose a day and remember later in the day, take the dose immediately. If you don't remember until the next day, skip the dose and go back to your regular schedule. If you take more than 1 dose a day and remember the forgotten dose within an hour or so after its scheduled time, take it immediately. If you don't remember until later, skip the dose and go back to your regular schedule. Never try to "catch up" by doubling a dose. Store Thioridazine at room temperature, tightly closed, in the container the medication came in. Are there any Thioridazine side effects? Thioridazine side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Thioridazine side effects may include abnormal and excessive secretion of milk, agitation, anemia, asthma, blurred vision, body spasm, breast development in males, changed mental state, changes in sex drive, chewing movements, confusion, constipation, diarrhea, discolored eyes, drowsiness, dry mouth, excitement, eyeball rotation, fever, fluid accumulation and swelling, headache, inability to hold urine, inability to urinate, inhibition of ejaculation, intestinal blockage, involuntary movements, irregular blood pressure, pulse, and heartbeat, irregular or missed menstrual periods, jaw spasm, loss of appetite, loss of muscle movement, mouth puckering, muscle rigidity, nasal congestion, nausea, overactivity, painful muscle spasm, paleness, pinpoint pupils, protruding tongue, psychotic reactions, puffing of cheeks, rapid heartbeat, redness of the skin, restlessness, rigid and masklike face, sensitivity to light, skin pigmentation and rash, sluggishness, stiff, twisted neck, strange dreams, sweating, swelling in the throat, swelling or filling of breasts, swollen glands, tremors, vomiting, weight gain, and yellowing of the skin and whites of eyes. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Thioridazine? If Thioridazine is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. Remember that combining Thioridazine with certain drugs can increase the danger of potentially fatal heartbeat irregularities. Among the drugs to avoid are the following: Amiodarone (Cordarone), Cimetidine (Tagamet), Delavirdine (Rescriptor), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), Paroxetine (Paxil), Pindolol, Propafenone (Rythmol), Propranolol (Inderal), Quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex), and Ritonavir (Norvir). Check with your doctor before adding any new drug to your regimen. Remember that extreme drowsiness and other potentially serious effects can result if Thioridazine is combined with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants such as narcotics, painkillers, and sleeping medications. Are there any special warnings about Thioridazine? Thioridazine may cause tardive dyskinesia. This condition may be permanent, and appears to be most common among the elderly, especially women. Ask your doctor for information about this possible risk. Drugs such as Thioridazine are also known to cause a potentially fatal condition known as Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. Symptoms of this problem include high fever, rigid muscles, altered mental status, sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, and changes in blood pressure. If you develop these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Thioridazine therapy may have to be permanently discontinued. In rare cases, Thioridazine has been known to trigger blood disorders and seizures. It can cause dizziness or faintness when you first stand up. High doses can also cause vision problems, including blurring, brownish coloring of vision, and poor night vision. This drug may impair your ability to drive a car or operate potentially dangerous machinery. If you have ever had breast cancer, make sure your doctor is aware of it. Thioridazine may cause false positive results in tests for pregnancy. |
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