Prescription medication · Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine)
chlorpromazine
Also sold as Thorazine. Chlorpromazine can treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 6,862
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 11
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 17
- Recall records
What the data shows
chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is a prescription Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine), reported less often than most tracked drugs (6,862 FDA reports), with 11 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is a prescription Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine). Chlorpromazine can treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
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.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.35/unit
Generic Available
Yes (26 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: CHLORPROMAZINE 10 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -7.8% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 17, 2024 | $0.3827/EA | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.3530/EA | -7.8% | 15 |
What it does
Chlorpromazine can treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
Common side effects
Drowsiness
Key warnings
Antipsychotic medicines like chlorpromazine can increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have dementia-related psychosis.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from chlorpromazine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 6,862 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for chlorpromazine, by number of reports
- Toxicity To Various Agents
Toxicity To Various Agents
425 reports
- Overdose
Overdose
345 reports
- Drug Interaction
Drug Interaction
321 reports
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
280 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
272 reports
- Neutropenia
Neutropenia
263 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
253 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
252 reports
- Vomiting
Vomiting
239 reports
- Psychotic Disorder
Psychotic Disorder
231 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for chlorpromazine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where chlorpromazine sits
chlorpromazine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 31% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is chlorpromazine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 6,862 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2001–2025.
Total Reports
6,862
Reports Mentioning Death
1,285
18.7% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
3,175
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 425 |
| 4 | OVERDOSE | 345 |
| 5 | DRUG INTERACTION | 321 |
| 6 | NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME | 280 |
| 7 | NAUSEA | 272 |
| 8 | NEUTROPENIA | 263 |
| 9 | FATIGUE | 253 |
| 10 | DIARRHOEA | 252 |
| 11 | VOMITING | 239 |
| 12 | PSYCHOTIC DISORDER | 231 |
| 13 | SOMNOLENCE | 228 |
| 14 | SUICIDE ATTEMPT | 214 |
| 15 | HYPOTENSION | 200 |
| 16 | SEIZURE | 199 |
| 17 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 198 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, chlorpromazine, opiate analgesics, NSAIDs, lamotrigine and carbamazepine) should be performed with caution.
Mechanism: Chlorpromazine can make desmopressin more powerful, making it harder for your body to release water. This increases the risk of developing low sodium levels in your bloodstream.
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...
Mechanism: These drugs can work together to slow the heart's electrical timing and cause movement-related side effects.
Product Clinical Comment on Concomitant Use [See Contraindications (4.1)] ; Predominant Effect/Risk [Hypertensive Reaction (HR) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] ; or Serotonin Syndrome (SS) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.7)] ] Altretamine Use with caution If not otherwise specified in this table, consider avoiding concomitant use (see also information on medication-free intervals , use agent at the lowest appropriate dose, monitor for effects of the interaction, advise the patient to report potential effects, and be prepared to discontinue the agent and treat effects of the...
Mechanism: These drugs can interact to cause dangerously high blood pressure or a life-threatening reaction involving too much serotonin in the brain. They both impact the way your body regulates mood and blood vessel health.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS CNS depressants, including alcohol: Possible adverse additive CNS- depressant effects ( 5.1 , 7.1 ) Opioids: Concomitant use may increase risk of respiratory depression ( 5.7 , 7.1 ) Imipramine: Decreased alertness observed ( 7.1 ) Chlorpromazine: Impaired alertness and psychomotor performance observed ( 7.1 ) CYP3A4 inducers (rifampin or St. Limit dosage and duration of concomitant use of Zolpidem Tartrate Tablets and opioids [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Imipramine, Chlorpromazine Imipramine in combination with Zolpidem...
Mechanism: These medicines both cause drowsiness and slow down your physical reactions, which can impair your coordination and alertness.
Drug Interactions There has been a report of a patient who passed an orange rubbery precipitate in his stool the day after ingesting carbamazepine suspension immediately followed by Thorazine solution. Subsequent testing has shown that mixing carbamazepine suspension and chlorpromazine solution (both generic and brand name) as well as carbamazepine suspension and liquid Mellaril, resulted in the occurrence of this precipitate.
Mechanism: Mixing these two liquid medicines together creates a solid, rubbery substance that the body cannot use.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I drink alcohol while taking chlorpromazine?
How long does it take for chlorpromazine to start working?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I stop taking chlorpromazine suddenly?
Will this medicine make me gain weight?
Can I drive while taking this medicine?
What if I have trouble swallowing the tablet?
Can I take other medications with chlorpromazine?
What should I do if I think I have taken too much?
What are the common side effects of chlorpromazine?
Does chlorpromazine interact with other medications?
What drug class is chlorpromazine?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for chlorpromazine?
Has chlorpromazine been recalled?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations: Presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended intake limit
The Harvard Drug Group LLC dba Major Pharmaceuticals and Rugby Laboratories
CGMP Deviations: Presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended intake limit
The Harvard Drug Group LLC dba Major Pharmaceuticals and Rugby Laboratories
CGMP Deviations: Presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended intake limit
The Harvard Drug Group LLC dba Major Pharmaceuticals and Rugby Laboratories
CGMP Deviations: presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended acceptable intake limit
Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
CGMP Deviations: presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended acceptable intake limit
Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
CGMP Deviations: presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended acceptable intake limit
Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
CGMP Deviations: presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended acceptable intake limit
Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
CGMP Deviations: presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended acceptable intake limit
Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
CGMP Deviations: presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended acceptable intake limit
Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
CGMP Deviations: presence of N-Nitroso Desmethyl Chlorpromazine above the recommended acceptable intake limit
Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
Presence of a foreign substance.A specific lot of auxiliary polyester coil, used in product packaging at the manufacturing site, was detected with presence of a micro-organism. No micro-organism was detected on any tablets.
Amerisource Health Services LLC
Presence of a foreign substance.A specific lot of auxiliary polyester coil, used in product packaging at the manufacturing site, was detected with presence of a micro-organism. No micro-organism was detected on any tablets.
Amerisource Health Services LLC
Presence of a foreign substance.A specific lot of auxiliary polyester coil, used in product packaging was detected with presence of a micro-organism. No micro-organism was detected on any tablets.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Presence of a foreign substance.A specific lot of auxiliary polyester coil, used in product packaging was detected with presence of a micro-organism. No micro-organism was detected on any tablets.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Presence of a foreign substance.A specific lot of auxiliary polyester coil, used in product packaging was detected with presence of a micro-organism. No micro-organism was detected on any tablets.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC
CGMP deviations: presence of N-Nitroso-Desmethyl Chlorpromazine impurity above the recommended interim limit
Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
CGMP Deviations: N-Nitroso-Desmethyl Chlorpromazine impurity (NNDCI) were found to be failing per current FDA recommended limit.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA
Related Medications in Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine)
Other drugs grouped near chlorpromazine - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with chlorpromazine →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with chlorpromazine →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with chlorpromazine →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with chlorpromazine →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with chlorpromazine →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for chlorpromazine: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 6,862.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 18.73%.
- diphenhydramine Δ 0.04 pts · 60,533 reports · First-Generation Antihistamine 18.77%death share
- phytonadione Δ 0.06 pts · 8,078 reports · Vitamin K Supplement 18.67%death share
- gentamicin Δ 0.08 pts · 12,687 reports · Aminoglycoside Antibiotic 18.65%death share
- linezolid Δ 0.14 pts · 28,005 reports · Oxazolidinone Antibiotic 18.58%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for chlorpromazine
The FDA label for chlorpromazine (sold under brand names such as Thorazine) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine) class. Chlorpromazine can treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. Official labeling lists 1 commonly reported side effect, including Drowsiness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 6,862 voluntary reports. The database also lists 11 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.35.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 17 recall records on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: July 28, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages