Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Thorazine Side Effects With Bipolar Disorder By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 30, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Daniel B. Block, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD LinkedIn Twitter Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Seb Oliver / Cultura / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Common Side Effects of Thorazine Less Common Side Effects Notify Your Doctor as Soon as Possible Thorazine Withdrawal What is the most important information I should know about Thorazine? Thorazine should not be used in people who: have a known hypersensitivity to chlorpromazine; or are 65 and older with dementia-related psychosis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning on all antipsychotic drugs, including Thorazine, due to the increased risk of death in older adults. Thorazine (chlorpromazine) is a medication that doctors may sometimes use in inpatient settings to control agitation and mania in people who have bipolar disorder. It is used infrequently and is not FDA-approved as a treatment for bipolar disorder. Thorazine is used to address symptoms of mania, psychosis, or agitation and not for long-term bipolar disorder management. Antipsychotic medications such as Thorazine, an older drug, and 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 of Thorazine Like other medications, Thorazine may have several 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) 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 tongue movements 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 and its risks. 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 legsRare: 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. Thorazine Withdrawal If you suddenly stop taking Thorazine, you may experience symptoms of withdrawal. Such symptoms may include dizziness, nausea, 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. Do not stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor. Doing so can lead to withdrawal or the return of mood symptoms. Work with your doctor to gradually taper your dose and explore other medications for treating your bipolar disorder. 5 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Steinberg M, Lyketsos CG. Atypical antipsychotic use in patients with dementia: managing safety concerns. Am J Psychiatry. 2012;169(9):900-906. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12030342 Dudley K, Liu X, De Haan S. Chlorpromazine dose for people with schizophrenia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;4(4):CD007778. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007778.pub2 Edinoff AN, Armistead G, Rosa CA, et al. Phenothiazines and their evolving roles in clinical practice: A narrative review. Health Psychol Res. 2022;10(4):38930. doi:10.52965/001c.38930 U.S. National Library of Medicine. Chlorpromazine. Brandt L, Bschor T, Henssler J, et al. Antipsychotic withdrawal symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:569912. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.569912 Additional Reading National Library of Medicine By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. 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