Pronunciation: ?
Generic name(s): perphenazine
Drug Class: phenothiazine/antipsychotic
Indications: Mainly used to treat schizophrenia.
Like other phenothiazines, it can be used to control severe nausea
and vomiting; unlike some phenothiazines (such as Serentil), it's
not known to be an effective treatment for hyperactivity in
the mentally retarded.
How supplied: tablets (2, 4, 8, and 16 mg); liquid
(16 mg/5 mL); injection (5 mg/1 mL)
Dosage for adults: 5 mg-64 mg
Dosage for children: Not recommended for children
under 12.
Contraindications: Should not be used in patients
receiving other central nervous system depressants such as
alcohol, barbiturates, or narcotics. Should
not be used in patients with damage to subcortical brain regions,
particularly the hypothalamus.
Precautions: Trilafon can be used to treat severe
vomiting, but it is important to remember that chronic vomiting may
indicate a serious disorder (brain tumor, intestinal obstruction, etc.)
that requires separate treatment. It should be used with caution in
patients who have glaucoma, are at high risk of hypotension, or are
frequently exposed to extreme heat, as it may exacerbate these conditions;
lower doses should be used in patients with respiratory, kidney,
liver, or other metabolic disorders. Phenothiazines in general cause
elevated prolactin levels, which may be associated with breast cancer; use with caution in patients at risk for this form of cancer. During
surgery, patients on Trilafon may experience extremely low
blood pressure and may need lower doses of anesthetic or sedative.
There are no studies that establish the safety of Trilafon in pregnant
women; therefore, they should avoid it unless they experience vomiting or
nausea that is so severe that the benefits of the drug outweigh the
potential risks.
Interactions: As noted above, Trilafon may
exacerbate the effects of central nervous system depressants.
Common Side-Effects: drowsiness, hypotension,
muscle spasms, difficulties in movement, tardive
dyskinesia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Warnings: When patients first start taking Trilafon,
they may experience changes in concentration and alertness, so patients should be careful about operating machinery,
engaging in dangerous activity, etc., until they learn how the
drug affects them. Long-term use of all phenothiazines, including
Trilafon, can cause tardive dyskinesia, which is a potentially
irreversible syndrome involving constant involuntary movements. This
syndrome sometimes--but not always--goes away when the drug is removed.
Therefore, Trilafon should be used with extreme caution and at the lowest
possible dose for periods longer than a few months. It can also cause
neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which involves high fever, muscle
rigidity, irregular pulse or heartbeat, and possibly death.
Trilafon injections contain sodium bisulfite, which may cause severe
allergic reactions or asthmatic attacks in
some people.
Date of most recent update: 1/31/03