Trifluoperazine

Trifluoperazine is an antipsychotic medication that is often prescribed to patients with schizophrenia. This medication changes brain chemistry in order to decrease abnormal activity in the brain and eliminate delusions, hallucinations and disorganized thinking.

Side Effects/Warnings

Antipsychotic medications such as Trifluoperazine should not be given to elderly patients to control the effects of age-related psychotic dementia. These medications are dangerous to elderly people’s health; older people who take Trifluoperazine are more likely to die of a heart attack or of pneumonia than patients who do not take the medication.

This medication creates physical dependence if taken for a long period of time. Patients should never abruptly stop taking the medication. Instead, they should gradually taper off the medication while under the care of a doctor familiar with antipsychotic medications.