Perphenazine

Perphenazine is a drug to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia ( schizophrenia ) . The use of this drug will help people with schizophrenia to think more clearly, reduce anxiety, hallucinations, and aggressive behavior.

Apart from being an antipsychotic, perphenazine is also sometimes used to relieve severe nausea. Perphenazine works by balancing natural brain chemicals, such as dopamine . With more balanced levels of chemicals in the brain, schizophrenia symptoms can be reduced.  

Please note that this medication should not be used to treat psychosis or mental disorders due to dementia .

Perphenazine trademark: Trilafon

What is Perphenazine

Precautions Before Taking Perphenazine

Perphenazine should only be consumed according to a doctor's prescription. Pay attention to the following things before taking perphenazine:

• Do not take this medication if you are allergic to perphenazine or phenothiazines , such as chlorpromazine , fluphenazine, prochlorperazine , promethazine, or thioridazine.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, heart disease, bone marrow disorders, blood disorders , or alcohol addiction.
• Tell your doctor if you have had or are currently suffering from major depression , hypertension, Parkinson's disease , seizures, kidney disease , tumors of the adrenal glands, glaucoma , hypocalcemia, or lung disease , such as asthma or emphysema .
• Tell your doctor if you are taking certain medications, supplements or herbal products.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy.
• Do not drive a vehicle or do activities that require alertness after taking perphenazine, because this drug can cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight while taking treatment with perphenazine, because this drug can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.
• Tell your doctor that you are taking perphenazine if you are planning to have surgery, including dental surgery.
• See your doctor immediately if you have an allergic drug reaction , serious side effects, or overdose after taking perphenazine.

Dosage and Rules for Using Perphenazine

The dose of perphenazine will be adjusted according to the patient's response to the drug, the condition, and the severity of the condition. The following are common perphenazine dosages for adults:

Condition: Schizophrenia

• For outpatients, the initial dose is 4–8 mg, 3 times daily. The maximum dose is 24 mg per day.
• For hospitalized patients, the initial dose is 8–16 mg, 2–4 times daily. The maximum dose is 64 mg per day.

Condition: Severe nausea and vomiting

• The dosage is 8-16 mg per day which is divided into several consumption schedules. The maximum dose is 24 mg.

How to Take Perphenazine Properly

Take perphenazine according to doctor 's instructions and instructions on the drug packaging. Do not increase or decrease the dosage of the drug without consulting your doctor first.

Perphenazine tablets need to be taken with food or immediately after eating. Take the drug at the same time every day for effective treatment.

Do not stop taking this drug suddenly because it can increase the risk of your symptoms getting worse. The doctor will gradually reduce the dose of the drug until the patient can safely stop taking the drug.

If you forget to take perphenazine, consume it immediately if the gap with the next consumption schedule is not too close. If it is close, ignore it and do not double the next dose.

To prevent dizziness after taking this drug, slowly stand up from a sitting or lying position.

Store perphenazine in a closed container in a cool, dry place. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Keep this drug out of reach of children.

Perphenazine Interactions with Other Drugs

Some of the drug interaction effects that can occur if perphenazine is used with certain drugs are:

• Decreased effectiveness of epinephrine
• Enhanced anticholinergic effect when used with atropine
• Increased blood levels of perphenazine when used with tricyclic antidepressant drugs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine , paroxetine, or sertraline
• Increased risk of cardiac QT prolongation when used with disopyramide, ibutilide, indapamide , pentamidine, pimozide, procainamide , quinidine, or sotalol
• Increased risk of side effects, such as low blood pressure, when used with antihistamines or barbiturates

Perphenazine Side Effects and Dangers

Side effects that can occur after consuming perphenazine include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizzy
• Feeling like you're about to faint
• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Weight gain drastically

Check with your doctor if the side effects above don't go away or get worse. Immediately see a doctor if you experience an allergic drug reaction or serious side effects, such as:

• Tardive dyskinesia , which is characterized by repetitive and involuntary muscle movements, such as sticking out the tongue or moving the fingers or toes
• An increase in the hormone prolactin in women, which is characterized by the release of breast milk when not pregnant or breastfeeding, cessation of the menstrual cycle, and difficulty getting pregnant
• Increased prolactin hormone in men, which is characterized by breast enlargement, decreased sexual desire, and the inability to produce sperm
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), which is characterized by fever , muscle pain, weakness, or stiffness, cloudy urine, excessive tiredness, or excessive sweating
• Easy bruising or bleeding, slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat, jaundice , fainting, or seizures