Trifluoperazine Description

Generic Name : TRIFLUOPERAZINE

Pronunciation : (trye floo oh per' a zeen)

Trade Name(s) : Neocalm, Psycalm, Trazine, Trinicalm

Why it is prescribed: Trifluoperazne is a tranquilizer used to treat emotional and mental conditions.

When it is to be taken: Trifluoperazne usually is taken once or twice a day. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully.

How it should be taken: Trifluoperazne comes in the form of tablets and oral liquid. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. The liquid concentrate comes in a bottle with a specially marked dropper for measuring the dose.

Special Instruction :
1. Trifluoperazine can cause drowsiness. Do not drive a car or operate dangerous machiney until you know how this drug affects you.
2. Do not stop taking trifluoperazine abruptly, especially if you have been taking it for a long time. Your doctor probably will want to decrease your dose gradually.
3. Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your dose may need to be adjusted occasionally, especially when you first take this drug. You also should have eye examinations periodically.
4. If you forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if you remember a missed dose at the time you are scheduled to take the next dose, take only the scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose.

Side Effects :
1. Drowsiness. This effect usually disappears after you have taken trifluoperazine for a few weeks.
2. Jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms; slow or difficult speech; difficulty swallowing; tremors; shuffling walk; drooling; inability to sit still; slow, jerky movements; sore throat; fever; skin rash; yellow skin; weakness. Contact your doctor.

Other Precautions :
1. Before you take trifluoperazne, tell your doctor if you never had a bad reaction to insulin, shock therapy, or any other tranquilizer or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. If you become pregnant, notify your doctor promptly.
2. Before you take trifluoperazine, tell your doctor if you have heart, liver, or kidney disease; glaucoma; an enlarged prostate gland; difficulty urinating; asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or lung disease; or a history of seizures.
3. Before taking trifluoperazine, tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially lithium, seizure medication, sedatives, sleeping pills, narcotics, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, and medication for depression, Parkinson's disease, hay fever, allergies, or colds.
4. Before having surgery, including dental surgery, with a general anesthetic, tell the doctor that you take trifluoperazine.
5. Trifluoperazine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Stay out of the sun when possible and wear protective clothing, sunscreen lotion, and sunglasses. Avoid exposure to extreme heat or cold.
6. Trifluoperazine decreases your ability to regulate body temperature, resulting in overheating or severe chilling. Do not swim in extremely cold water.
7. Alcohol adds to the drowsiness caused by trifluoperazine so limit your consumption.
8. Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep this medication in the container it came in and out of the reach of children.
2. Store it at room temperature.