Thioridazine Tablets

What is this medication?

THIORIDAZINE (thye oh RID a zeen) treats schizophrenia. It is often used when other medications have not worked well enough or cannot be tolerated. It works by balancing the level of dopamine in your brain, a substance that helps regulate mood, behavior, and thoughts. It belongs to a group of medications called antipsychotics. Antipsychotic medications can be used to treat several kinds of mental health conditions.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Mellaril

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• Alcohol use
• Bowel blockage
• Dementia
• Glaucoma
• Heart disease
• Heart failure
• High or low blood pressure
• High or low levels of electrolytes, such as magnesium or potassium, in your blood
• Irregular heartbeat or rhythm
• Liver disease
• Parkinson disease
• Slow heartbeat
• Trouble passing urine
• An unusual or allergic reaction to thioridazine, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• Breastfeeding

How should I use this medication?

Take this medication by mouth with water. Take it as directed on the prescription label. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop.

Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While it may be prescribed for children for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medication with any of the following:

• Berotralstat
• Certain medications for irregular heartbeat, such as amiodarone, dofetilide, dronedarone, encainide, flecainide, propafenone, quinidine
• Cisapride
• Fluoxetine
• Fluvoxamine
• Gefitinib
• Metoclopramide
• Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes, such as dacomitinib, degarelix, encorafenib, entrectinib, eribulin, goserelin, lapatinib
• Paroxetine
• Pimozide
• Pindolol
• Propranolol
• Saquinavir
• Viloxazine

This medication may also interact with the following:

• Alcohol
• Antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold
• Atropine
• Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
• Certain medications for bladder problems, such as oxybutynin, tolterodine
• Certain medications for depression
• Certain medications for stomach problems, such as dicyclomine, hyoscyamine
• Certain medications for travel sickness, such as scopolamine
• Epinephrine
• General anesthetics, such as halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
• Ipratropium
• Lithium
• Medications for blood pressure
• Medications for Parkinson disease, such as levodopa
• Medications for seizures, such as phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin
• Medications that relax muscles for surgery
• Opioid medications for pain

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

You may need blood work done before or while taking this medication. Your care team may also give you a test called an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart before and during treatment.

This medication can increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia. It should not be used to treat mood and behavior changes caused by dementia.

This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.

This medication may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when you get up from sitting or lying down. You may feel dizzy or faint. Move slowly and have something sturdy to hold onto when you stand.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.

Talk to your care team if you may be pregnant. Prolonged use of this medication during pregnancy can cause temporary withdrawal in a newborn.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

• Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Change in vision
• Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
• High fever, stiff muscles, increased sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, and confusion, which may be signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• High prolactin level—unexpected breast tissue growth, discharge from the nipple, change in sex drive or performance, irregular menstrual cycle
• Infection—fever, chills, cough, or sore throat
• Low blood pressure—dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, blurry vision
• Seizures
• Uncontrolled and repetitive body movements, muscle stiffness or spasms, tremors or shaking, loss of balance or coordination, restlessness, shuffling walk, which may be signs of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Weight gain

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Protect from light. Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.

To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:

• Take the medication to a take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
• If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put it in the trash, take the medication out of the container. Mix it with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or another unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.