chlorpromazine vs perphenazine
Side-by-side comparison of chlorpromazine and perphenazine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Thorazine
Trilafon
Chlorpromazine is a medicine that belongs to a class of drugs called phenothiazine antipsychotics. It can help manage symptoms of certain mental disorders by affecting chemical messengers in the brain.
Perphenazine is a medicine used to treat schizophrenia and control severe nausea and vomiting. It belongs to a class of drugs called typical antipsychotics.
Chlorpromazine can treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. It can also control nausea and vomiting. Additionally, it can help with restlessness before surgery, acute intermittent porphyria, tetanus, manic episodes of bipolar disorder, and intractable hiccups. In children, it can treat severe behavioral problems and hyperactivity.
Perphenazine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that can affect how you think, feel, and behave. This medicine can also help control severe nausea and vomiting in adults.
Chlorpromazine works by changing the effect of certain natural chemicals in the brain. It blocks dopamine receptors, which helps to reduce psychotic symptoms. It also affects other neurotransmitters, such as histamine and acetylcholine.
Perphenazine works by changing the levels of certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, help to regulate mood and behavior. By affecting these chemicals, perphenazine can help reduce symptoms of schizophrenia and control nausea.
- • Drowsiness
- • Muscle stiffness or spasms
- • Restlessness
- • Slow movements
- • Shaking
- • Weight gain
- The medicine is not working 527
- Using the medicine for a purpose it is not approved for 432
- Harmful effects from different substances 426
- Taking too much medicine 345
- Medicines affecting each other 322
- Medicine not working 357
- Harmful reaction to substances 274
- Weight gain 222
- Restlessness 184
- Attempt to end one's life 180
Antipsychotic medicines like chlorpromazine can increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have dementia-related psychosis. Chlorpromazine is not approved for treating this condition.
This medicine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Perphenazine is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks if you are an older adult with dementia.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if chlorpromazine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if perphenazine will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This chlorpromazine vs perphenazine Comparison
chlorpromazine is classified in the Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine) drug class, while perphenazine sits within the Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, chlorpromazine has 2,052 submissions while perphenazine has 1,217. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between chlorpromazine and perphenazine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.