Antipsychotic medications such as Thorazine, an older drug, as well as some of the newer antipsychotics, can be life-saving for people with bipolar disorder. For these people, the benefits of these drugs typically outweigh their risks.
Common Side Effects
Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
ConstipationDecreased sweatingDizzinessDrowsinessDryness of mouthNasal congestion
Less Common Side Effects
Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
Changes in menstrual periodDecreased sexual abilityIncreased sensitivity of skin to sunlight (skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of skin, or severe sunburn)Swelling or pain in breastsUnusual secretion of milkWeight gain (unusual)
Along with their needed effects, phenothiazines can sometimes cause serious side effects. Tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder) may occur and may not go away after you stop using the medicine. Signs of tardive dyskinesia include fine, worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs. Other serious but rare side effects may also occur. You and your doctor should discuss the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of taking it. Rare but serious side effects can include:
Difficulty breathingFast heartbeatFeverIncreased sweatingLoss of bladder controlSeizures (which can be an indication of neuroleptic malignant syndrome or a separate side effect in and of itself)Severe muscle stiffnessUnusual tiredness or weakness
Notify Your Doctor Immediately
If you experience any of the following side effects, notify your doctor immediately: More common: Lip-smacking or puckering; involuntary puffing of cheeks; rapid or fine, worm-like movements of tongue; uncontrolled chewing movements; uncontrolled movements of arms or legs Rare: Convulsions (seizures); difficult or fast breathing; fast heartbeat or irregular pulse; fever; high or low blood pressure; increased sweating; loss of bladder control; muscle stiffness (severe); unusually pale skin; unusual tiredness or weakness
Notify Your Doctor as Soon as Possible
If you experience any of the following side effects, notify your doctor as soon as possible: More common: Blurred vision, change in color vision, or difficulty in seeing at night, difficulty in speaking or swallowing, fainting, inability to move eyes, loss of balance control, mask-like face, muscle spasms (especially of face, neck, and back), or restlessness or need to keep moving. Also notify your doctor as soon as possible if you experience shuffling walk, stiffness of arms or legs, tic-like or twitching movements, trembling and shaking of hands and fingers, twisting movements of body, or weakness of arms and legs. Less common: Difficulty in urinating; skin rash; sunburn (severe) Rare: Abdominal or stomach pains, aching muscles and joints, confusion, fever and chills, hot or dry skin, lack of sweating, or muscle weakness. Other rare side effects that warrant contacting your doctor include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, painful, inappropriate penile erection (continuing); skin discoloration (tan or blue-gray); skin itching (severe), sore throat and fever, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellow eyes or skin.
Withdrawal Side Effects
Dizziness, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, trembling of the fingers and hands, or any of the following symptoms of tardive dyskinesia:
Lip-smacking or puckeringInvoluntary puffing of cheeksRapid or fine, worm-like movements of the tongueUncontrolled chewing movementsUncontrolled movements of arms or legs
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
