chlorpromazine vs tetrabenazine
Side-by-side comparison of chlorpromazine and tetrabenazine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
7.5 Drugs That Cause QTc Prolongation Tetrabenazine causes a small prolongation of QTc (about 8 msec), concomitant use with other drugs that are known to cause QTc prolongation should be avoided, these including antipsychotic medications (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, thioridazine, ziprasidone), antibiotics (e.g., moxifloxacin), Class 1A (e.g., quinidine, procainamide) and Class III (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic medications or any other medications known to prolong the QTc interval. 7.6 Neuroleptic Drugs The risk for Parkinsonism, NMS, and akathisia may be increased by...
Recommendation: Avoid using these medications together to lower the risk of heart rhythm changes and muscle stiffness.
Thorazine
Xenazine
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.
Tetrabenazine is a medicine used to treat chorea (uncontrollable movements) caused by Huntington's disease. It helps to reduce these movements.
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.
Tetrabenazine is used to treat chorea, which are the involuntary, jerky movements that happen with Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease is a brain disorder that affects movement, behavior, and thinking. This medicine can help control the movements caused by this condition.
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.
Tetrabenazine works by affecting a substance in the brain that moves other chemicals. It lowers the amount of certain chemicals, like dopamine, in the brain. This helps to control the involuntary movements (chorea) caused by Huntington's disease.
- • Drowsiness
- • Feeling sleepy or drowsy
- • Feeling tired
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Feeling depressed
- • Feeling restless
- Harmful effects from different substances 426
- Taking too much medicine 345
- Medicines affecting each other 322
- A severe reaction to antipsychotic drugs causing fever, muscle stiffness, and altered mental status 280
- Feeling sick to your stomach 272
- Death 1,212
- Feeling sad or hopeless 475
- Feeling sleepy or drowsy 451
- Feeling tired 360
- Falling down 316
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.
Tetrabenazine can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts in people with Huntington's disease. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, tell your doctor right away. You should not take this medicine if you are actively suicidal or have untreated depression.
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.
This medicine may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This chlorpromazine vs tetrabenazine Comparison
chlorpromazine is classified in the Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine) drug class, while tetrabenazine sits within the VMAT2 Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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 1,645 submissions while tetrabenazine has 2,814. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these drugs can work together to slow the heart's electrical timing and cause movement-related side effects.. 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 tetrabenazine - 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.