Typical (low-potency) antipsychotic
Chlorpromazine hydrochloride
Brand names: Largactil
Adult dose
Dose: Schizophrenia: 75mg/day in divided doses, increasing to 300mg/day (max 1g/day). IM 25–50mg every 6–8h for acute disturbance
Route: PO/IM
Frequency: TDS-QDS
Clinical pearls
- Low D2 affinity, high anticholinergic and antihistaminergic — sedating
- Photosensitivity: advise sun protection
Contraindications
- CNS depression
- Coma
- Bone marrow suppression
- Phaeochromocytoma
Side effects
- Sedation
- Hypotension
- Anticholinergic effects
- Photosensitivity
- Cholestatic jaundice
- NMS
- EPSE
- QT prolongation
Interactions
- Other QT-prolonging drugs
- Levodopa (antagonism)
- CNS depressants
Monitoring
- BP
- FBC
- LFTs
- ECG
- Glucose/lipids
Reference: BNF; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/chlorpromazine-hydrochloride/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- Acute Behavioural Disturbance / Rapid Tranquillisation · RCEM 2022; RCPsych 2022; NICE NG10
- Self-Harm Presentation · NICE NG225 (2022)
- Capacity Assessment (Mental Capacity Act) · MCA 2005; Code of Practice
- Acute Psychosis Management · NICE CG178 2014
- Depression Management · NICE CG90 2022
- Lithium Therapy Monitoring · NICE CG185 / BNF