Trifluoperazine is an effective
antipsychotic for people with schizophrenia condition.[5] There is low-quality evidence that trifluoperazine increases the chance of being improved when compared to placebo when people are followed up for 19 weeks.[5] There is low-quality evidence that trifluoperazine reduces the risk of relapse when compared with placebo when people are followed for 5 months.[5] As of 2014 there was no good evidence for a difference between trifluoperazine and
placebo with respect to the risk of experiencing intensified symptoms over a 16-week period nor in reducing significant agitation or distress.[5]
There is no good evidence that trifluoperazine is more effective for schizophrenia than lower-potency antipsychotics like
chlorpromazine,
chlorprothixene,
thioridazine and
levomepromazine, but trifluoperazine appears to cause more adverse effects than these drugs.[6]
Other
It appears to be effective for people with
generalized anxiety disorder but the benefit–risk ratio was unclear as of 2005.[7]
Its use in many parts of the world has declined because of highly frequent and severe early and late
tardive dyskinesia, a type of
extrapyramidal symptom. The annual development rate of tardive dyskinesia may be as high as 4%.[citation needed]
A 2004
meta-analysis of the studies on trifluoperazine found that it is more likely than placebo to cause extrapyramidal side effects such as
akathisia,
dystonia, and
Parkinsonism.[9] It is also more likely to cause
somnolence and anticholinergic side effects such as
red eye and
xerostomia (dry mouth).[9] All antipsychotics can cause the rare and sometimes fatal
neuroleptic malignant syndrome.[10] Trifluoperazine can lower the seizure threshold.[11] The
antimuscarinic action of trifluoperazine can cause excessive dilation of the pupils (
mydriasis), which increases the chances of patients with
hyperopia developing
glaucoma.[12]
Contraindications
Trifluoperazine is contraindicated in
CNS depression,
coma, and
blood dyscrasias. Trifluoperazine should be used with caution in patients suffering from renal or hepatic impairment.
Brand names include Eskazinyl, Eskazine, Jatroneural, Modalina, Sizonil, Stelazine, Stilizan, Terfluzine, Trifluoperaz and Triftazin.
In the
United Kingdom and some other countries, trifluoperazine is sold and marketed under the brand 'Stelazine'.
The drug is sold as tablet, liquid and 'Trifluoperazine-injectable USP' for deep
intramuscular short-term use.
GP studying pharmacological data has indicated cases of neck vertebrae irreversible fusing leading to NHS preparations being predominantly of the liquid form trifluoperazine as opposed to the tablet form as in Stela zine etc.
In the past, trifluoperazine was used in fixed combinations with the
MAO inhibitor (antidepressant)
tranylcypromine (
tranylcypromine/trifluoperazine) to attenuate the strong stimulating effects of this antidepressant. This combination was sold under the brand name Jatrosom N, Stelapar, Parstelin, among others. It remained available in
Italy under the brand name Parmodalin (10 mg of tranylcypromine and 1 mg of trifluoperazine) until its discontinuation in 2019.
Likewise, a combination with
amobarbital (potent sedative/hypnotic agent) for the amelioration of
psychoneurosis and
insomnia existed under the brand name Jalonac.
^Tardy M, Dold M, Engel RR, Leucht S (July 2014). "Trifluoperazine versus low-potency first-generation antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (7): CD009396.
doi:
10.1002/14651858.CD009396.pub2.
PMID25003310.
^Hill SJ, Young M (December 1978). "Antagonism of central histamine H1 receptors by antipsychotic drugs". European Journal of Pharmacology. 52 (3–4): 397–399.
doi:
10.1016/0014-2999(78)90297-2.
PMID32056.