Phenothiazines : Before Using

Phenothiazines - Systemic

Phenothiazines *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For phenothiazines, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to phenothiazines. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes. Some of the phenothiazine dosage forms contain parabens, sulfites, or tartrazine.

Pregnancy care

Although studies have not been done in pregnant women, some side effects, such as jaundice and movement disorders, have occurred in a few newborns whose mothers received phenothiazines during pregnancy. Studies in pets have shown that, when given to the mother during pregnancy, these medication can decrease the number of successful pregnancies and cause problems with bone development in the offspring. Before taking this drug, make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding problem

Phenothiazines pass into breast milk and may cause drowsiness or unusual muscle movements in the nursing baby. It may be necessary for you to take a various drug or to stop breast-feeding during treat. Be sure you have discussed the chance and benefits of the drug with your family doctor.

Use for Children

Certain side effects, such as muscle spasms of the face, neck and back, tic-like or twitching movements, inability to move the eyes, twisting of the body, or weakness of the arms and legs, are more likely to occur in child, especially those with severe illness or dehydration. Children are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of phenothiazines.

Elderly care

Constipation, trouble urinating, dryness of mouth, confusion, problems with memory, dizziness or fainting, drowsiness, trembling of the hands and fingers and problems with muscle movement, such as decreased or unusual movements, are especially likely to occur in elderly diseaseds, who are usually more sensitive than adults people to the effects of phenothiazines.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking phenothiazines, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Amantadine - Symmetrel
Antihypertensives - high blood pressure drug
Bromocriptine - Parlodel
Deferoxamine - Desferal
Diuretics - water pills
Levobunolol - Betagan
Medicine for heart disease
Metipranolol - OptiPranolol
Nabilone - Cesamet - with high doses
Narcotic pain drug
Pentamidine - Pentam Severe low blood pressure may occur

Antidepressants - drug for depression The risk of developing serious side effects, including severe constipation, low blood pressure, severe drowsiness, unusual body or facial movements and changes in heart rhythm, may be increased

Antipsychotics, other - drug for mental illness
Promethazine - Phenergan
Trimeprazine - Temaril Severe low blood pressure or unusual body or facial movements may occur

Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid The risk of developing serious blood problems may be increased

Astemizole - Hismanal
Cisapride - Propulsid
Disopyramide - Norpace
Erythromycin - E.E.S., EryPed
Probucol - Lorelco
Procainamide - Procan SR
Quinidine - Duraquin Serious changes in heart rhythm may occur

Central nervous system - CNS depressants - medication that cause drowsiness Severe drowsiness and trouble in breathing may occur

Epinephrine - Adrenalin Severe low blood pressure and fast heartbeat may occur

Levodopa - Dopar Phenothiazines may prevent levodopa from help you in the treat of Parkinson's disease

Lithium - Lithane, Lithizine, Lithobid Some unwanted effects, such as decreased or unusual body or facial movements, may be increased. The blood levels of the phenothiazine andlithium may be changed, so the medication may not work properly. Your family doctor may need to change your dose of either or both medication

Metoclopramide - Reglan
Metyrosine - Demser
Pemoline - Cylert
Rauwolfia alkaloids - deserpidine " Harmonyl ", rauwolfia serpentina " Raudixin ", reserpine " Serpasil " Taking these medication with phenothiazines may increase the risk of having decreased or unusual body or facial movements or may make the movement problems worse

Pimozide - Orap Serious changes in heart rhythm, severe low blood pressure, or unusual body or facial movements may occur

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of phenothiazines. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Alcohol abuse Certain unwanted effects, such as heatstroke and liver disease, may be more likely to occur

Blood disease
Breast cancer
Difficult urination
Glaucoma
Heart or blood vessel disease
Parkinson's disease
Seizure disorders, or history of
Stomach ulcers Phenothiazines may make the condition worse

Brain damage
Blood vessel disease in the brain Serious increase in body temperature may occur

Enlarged prostate Difficulty in urinating may occur or may become more severe

Liver disease Phenothiazines may make the condition worse. Higher blood levels of phenothiazines may occur, increasing the risk of having unwanted effects

Lung disease Difficulty in breathing may become more severe. Decrease in cough reflex causing by phenothiazines may increase the risk of developing complications, such as pneumonia

Pheochromocytoma
Kidney disease Severe low blood pressure may occur

Reye's syndrome The risk that the phenothiazine will have unwanted effects on the liver may be increased