What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking Thioridazine:
Do not take thioridazine if you have any of the following conditions or a history of these conditions: heart disease, an irregular heartbeat or a history of irregular heartbeats, a history of prolonged QT intervals, a family history of congenital long QT syndrome, or other heartbeat disturbances. These conditions may increase the risk of irregular heartbeats, heart attack, and death while taking thioridazine.
Moreover, tell your doctor if you have a bone marrow disease, glaucoma, seizures, Parkinson's disease, an enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating, liver disease, or kidney disease. You may not be able to take thioridazine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above
Do not take thioridazine with any of the following drugs: psychiatric medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac®), paroxetine (Paxil®, Paxil CR®), and fluvoxamine (Luvox®); or blood pressure medications such as pindolol (Visken®) or propranolol (Inderal®, Inderal LA®, others). Taken with any of these drugs, thioridazine may cause irregular heartbeats that could lead to death. This is not a complete list of drugs that may interact with thioridazine and cause heart problems, therefore please talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Thioridazine may interact with other drugs that cause drowsiness, including alcohol, antidepressants, antihistamines, pain relievers, anxiety medicines, seizure medicines, and muscle relaxants. Dangerous sedation, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur if thioridazine is taken with alcohol or any of these medications. Talk to your doctor before taking thioridazine in combination with alcohol or any other medicines.
It is not known whether thioridazine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take thioridazine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
Additionally, it is not known whether thioridazine passes into breast milk. Do not take thioridazine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from thioridazine. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of this medication or you may require special monitoring during treatment.
Use cautiously when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities as this medication may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall.
Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Thioridazine may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when sun exposure is unavoidable.
Why is this medication prescribed?
Dosage and using this medicine
What should I do if I forget a dose?
What side effects can this medication cause?
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
In case of an emergency/overdose