thioridazine hydrochloride /-rid′əzēn/ , a phenothiazine antipsychotic. ▪ INDICATIONS: It is prescribed in the treatment of schizophrenia when patients have failed to respond to other therapies and in the management of nonpsychotic behavioral disturbances, senility, alcohol withdrawal, and organic brain disease. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Parkinson’s disease, concurrent administration of central nervous system depressants, hepatic or renal dysfunction, severe hypotension, or known hypersensitivity to this drug or to other phenothiazine medications prohibits its use. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Among the more serious adverse effects are severe sedation, a potentially life-threatening prolongation of the QT interval, hypotension, hepatotoxicity, extrapyramidal reactions, blood dyscrasias, and hypersensitivity reactions. It should be used with caution in patients with premature ventricular contractions, breast cancer, and respiratory disorders and in patients exposed to extreme heat, cold, and pesticides or insecticides. The herb kava kava may increase the risk and severity of dystonic reactions.
