Mellaril Side Effects

Severe Side Effects of Mellaril

Deaths due to severe arrhythmia caused the FDA to add a black box warning for Mellaril. This drug greatly increases the risk of lethal cardiac events.
Mellaril may cause the patient to enter into a comatose state.
Severe Respiratory depression (hypoventilation) and apnea may occur while taking Mellaril.
Mellaril may cause pulmonary edema, or excess fluid in the lungs. This is often life threatening if not quickly treated.
Tardive Dyskinesia, which entails involuntary bodily spasms and movement, may develop during long term use of Mellaril.
Mellaril may cause kidney failure in some patients.
Intestinal blockage may result from taking Mellaril.
Some patients experienced seizures while taking Mellaril.

Common Side Effects of Mellaril

Nervous System side effects for Mellaril include anger or agitation, confused states, restlessness, and drop in body temperature.
Other side effects include dry mouth, blurry vision, and nasal blockage.

Warnings & Recalls for Mellaril

Black Box Warning for Mellaril

Mellaril may cause severe Torsades de pointes-related arrhythmia in some patients. Schizophrenic patients should only take Mellaril if they have failed to respond to more safe antipsychotic drugs.
Mellaril may increase the risk of mortality in elderly patients with dementia.

Other Warnings for Mellaril

The patient should avoid alcohol, opiates, barbiturates, and anesthetics while taking Mellaril as these may dangerously increase the sedative effect. Tell your doctor all of the medications you are on before taking Mellaril, including antibiotics, anesthetics, antidepressants, insulin, medication for blood pressure, malaria and cancer medications, blood thinners, irritable bowel syndrome medicine, medication for HIV/AIDS, lithium, medications to treat Parkinson's disease, hormone affecting medications or numbing medications, migraine and heart rhythm medications, asthma medications, ADHD medicines, pituitary gland tumor medication, narcotics, medications used to prevent organ transplant rejection, anti-psychotics and medicine for the treatment of nausea/vomiting or incontinence.
Mellaril and other antipsychotic drugs may cause Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome.
Mellaril has not been given a pregnancy class. However, when taken during the third trimester, infants may suffer from Mellaril withdrawal and involuntary muscle spasms. It is best to avoid this medication during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks in certain situations.
Antipsychotic drugs may have a correlation with breast cancer.
Patients who have had a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, heart disorders including slow heartbeats, have ever had breast cancer, enlarged prostate, liver or kidney complications, seizures, Parkinson's disease, urination problems, low potassium levels or who have had a past serious side effect to any thioridazines or phenothiazines should not take this drug without consulting with a physician first.

Mellaril Treatment and Use

Mellaril | Thioridazine HCL is an antipsychotic drug that is prescribed to schizophrenic patients. Due to the danger of this drug, it is often prescribed as a last resort if the patient fails to respond to other antipsychotics. As of 2005, Mellaril is no longer sold in Canada and the UK due to safety concerns. Mellaril (first spelled Melleril) was initially marketed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals in 1958.

What does Mellaril do?

Mellaril works to reduce the psychotic symptoms, outbursts, and episodes in schizophrenic patients.

Dosage

The initial dose for schizophrenic patients is 50 mg three times a day. The dosage may be gradually increased up to 800 mg a day. Once an effective dosage has been achieved, the physician may suggest a slight decrease in dosage to maintain the most minimal effective dose. Mellaril is available in 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg tablets.

Other Names for Mellaril

Brand Names

Mellaril

Melleril

Thioril

Novoridazine

Generic

Thioridazine HCL