Trifluoperazine — uses, dosing, side effects & the brands that sell it · pharmaranks
Trifluoperazine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Trifluoperazine is a phenothiazine sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders and schizophrenia. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
By the pharmaranks editorial team·Reviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sources·How we research
Key facts
Drug class
Phenothiazine
Treats
Anxiety Disorders, Psychotic Disorders and Schizophrenia
Available as
Tablet
Sold as
2 products — Stelazine and Trifluoperazine Hydrochloride
From the FDA label for Stelazine (application NDA011552). Other trifluoperazine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Dosage should be adjusted to the needs of the individual. The lowest effective dosage should always be used. Dosage should be increased more gradually in debilitated or emaciated patients. When maximum response is achieved, dosage may be reduced gradually to a maintenance level. Because of the inherent long action of the drug, patients may be controlled on convenient b.i.d. administration; some patients may be maintained on once a day administration. When trifluoperazine hydrochloride is administered by intramuscular injection, equivalent oral dosage may be substituted once symptoms have been controlled. Note: Although there is little likelihood of contact dermatitis due to the drug, persons with known sensitivity to phenothiazine drugs should avoid direct contact. Elderly Patients In general, dosages in the lower range are sufficient for most elderly patients. Since they appear to be more susceptible to hypotension and neuromuscular reactions, such patients should be observed closely. Dosage should be tailored to the individual, response carefully monitored, and dosage adjusted accordingly. Dosage should be increased more gradually in elderly patients. Non-Psychotic Anxiety Usual dosage is 1 mg or 2 mg twice daily. Do not administer at doses of more than 6 mg per day or for longer than 12 weeks. Schizophrenia Oral Usual starting dosage is 2 mg to 5 mg b.i.d. (Small or…
Trifluoperazine side effects
Drowsiness, dizziness, skin reactions, rash, dry mouth, insomnia, amenorrhea, fatigue, muscular weakness, anorexia, lactation, blurred vision and neuromuscular (extrapyramidal) reactions. Neuromuscular (Extrapyramidal) Reactions These symptoms are seen in a significant number of hospitalized mental patients. They may be characterized by motor restlessness, be of the dystonic type, or they may resemble parkinsonism. Depending on the severity of symptoms, dosage should be reduced or discontinued. If therapy is reinstituted, it should be at a lower dosage. Should these symptoms occur in children or pregnant patients, the drug should be stopped and not reinstituted. In most cases, barbiturates by suitable route of administration will suffice. (Or, injectable diphenhydramine hydrochloride may be useful.) In more severe cases, the administration of an antiparkinsonism agent, except levodopa, usually produces rapid reversal of symptoms. Suitable supportive measures such as maintaining a clear airway and adequate hydration should be employed. Motor Restlessness Symptoms may include agitation or jitteriness and sometimes insomnia. These symptoms often disappear spontaneously. At times these symptoms may be similar to the original neurotic or psychotic symptoms. Dosage should not be increased until these side effects have subsided. If this phase becomes too troublesome, the symptoms can…
Every trifluoperazine product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Trifluoperazine pill imprints
Imprint
Strength
Colour
Shape
Maker
T3;M
1 mg
white
round
—
M;T4
2 mg
white
round
—
M;T5
5 mg
purple
round
—
M;T6
10 mg
purple
round
—
M;T4
2 mg
white
round
—
M;T5
5 mg
purple
Frequently asked questions
What is trifluoperazine?
Each film-coated tablet, for oral administration, contains trifluoperazine hydrochloride, USP equivalent to 1 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg trifluoperazine. The structural formula is: 10-[3-(4-Methyl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]-2-(trifluoromethyl) phenothiazine dihydrochloride In addition, each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, pregelatinized starch (corn), sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. The 5 mg and 10 mg tablets also contain D&C Red No. 30 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake and FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake. Structural Formula
What kind of drug is trifluoperazine?
The FDA classifies trifluoperazine as a phenothiazine. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take trifluoperazine with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run trifluoperazine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is trifluoperazine sold under?
We track 2 trifluoperazine-containing products in the U.S.: Stelazine and Trifluoperazine Hydrochloride. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does trifluoperazine come in?
Across the brands we track, trifluoperazine is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Who shouldn’t take trifluoperazine
A known hypersensitivity to phenothiazines, comatose or greatly depressed states due to central nervous system depressants and, in cases of existing blood dyscrasias, bone marrow depression and preexisting liver damage.
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic trifluoperazine product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.