Jaundice caused by chlorpromazine (thorazine).

Abstract

Chlorpromazine [10 - ( γ -dimethylaminopropyl) - 2 -chlorophenothiazine hydrochloride], better known in this country under the trade name of Thorazine, became available for general use by the American medical profession in May, 1954. It was first synthesized in France in 1951. In France it is known as Largactil; while it was being used experimentally in this country it was known as SKF 2601-A. It has been used in the symptomatic treatment of alcoholism, barbiturate intoxication and withdrawal symptoms, bronchial asthma, delirium tremens, emesis, epilepsy, hiccups, hypothermic anesthesia, hypertension, Meniere's disease, peripheral vascular disease, paralysis agitans (Parkinson's disease), pruritus, psychomotor tension incident to psychotic and psychoneurotic reaction types, and seasickness. Among other side-effects of the drug jaundice has been described; however, only Moyer and his associates1have described this type of jaundice in detail. They had one patient in a series of more than 500 patients treated with chlorpromazine. Winkelman2performed