Perazine

Perazine is a medium-potent 1st generation neuroleptic. It is used to treat psychotic syndromes. In addition to schizophrenia, psychoses, anxiety disorders, delusions and personality disorders are treated with the drug. Perazine has a sedative and antipsychotic effect by inhibiting the effect of certain neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. The use and dosage of the drug must be discussed with the attending physician and should be individually tailored to the patient. When taking it, certain side effects such as cardiac arrhythmias, dry mouth and Parkinson's-like symptoms are possible.

What is perazine

Perazin is a drug that is marketed under the trade name Taxilan®. It belongs to the group of phenothiazines. Phenothiazines are poorly water-soluble substances. They are used not only as medicines but also as insecticides or dyes.

Pharmacologically active phenothiazines are very similar in terms of their chemical structure to the first neuroleptic chlorpromazine to be discovered. Perazin is a moderately potent neuroleptic and came on the market in the 1960s. The active ingredient is available in different doses. Other ingredients in the drug include cellulose, copovidone, sodium salt, magnesium and iron.

Pharmacological effect

Neuroleptics have a sedating and antipsychotic effect on the human organism. They can be divided according to their generation and their potency. Like Melperon or Zuclopenthixol, perazine is one of the medium-potent neuroleptics of the 1st generation.

Psychotic states can mainly be traced back to the mechanisms of action of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Therefore, the drug is also effective in the central nervous system. Perazine is a so-called dopamine antagonist. It binds to the receptor for dopamine in the brain and thus prevents dopamine from docking. As a result, the effects of dopamine are inhibited.

The drug therefore affects the effect of the neurotransmitter on the human psyche. By inhibiting dopamine, the transmission of signals to the nerve endings is restricted. It follows that feelings such as tension, fear and restlessness decrease. At the same time, hallucinations and delusions are restricted.

Medical application & use

Perazine is used in medicine to treat acute psychotic syndromes. It is used for delusions, ego disorders and hallucinations. Further indication areas for the drug are the so-called catatonic syndrome as well as exogenous and endogenous psychoses.

Catatonic syndrome is a psychomotor syndrome that can occur in connection with mental illnesses such as depression or schizophrenia. Behavioral, emotional and motor symptoms are characteristic. Further areas of indication are manic disorders and states of excitement such as strong aggressiveness.

Perazine should always be taken as directed by the attending physician. A dose adjustment on your own can lead to undesirable risks and side effects and should therefore be avoided. The form of administration, the duration of use and the dosage should be individually adapted to the patient and his or her disease burden. Perazine has an antipsychotic effect that in some cases only reaches its maximum after one to three weeks of use.

In contrast, the dampening effect on the psychomotor system sets in immediately. Strongly fluctuating dosages should be avoided. The drug should not be stopped suddenly, especially after long-term use.

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Risks & side effects

People who are allergic to perazine should not take the drug. In addition, the medicine should not be prescribed if the patient has severe damage to blood cells or bone marrow.

Under certain symptoms such as previous damage to the heart, glaucoma, severe liver disease, enlargement of the prostate, narrowing of the gastric outlet and others, it is generally possible to take the drug. In these cases, however, special care should be taken.

Certain side effects may occur while taking Perazin. Common negative effects are sedation, spasms of the tongue or throat muscles, rolling of the eyes and cramps in the jaw muscles.

Parkinson's syndrome can also occur. This is characterized by stiffness, sedentary lifestyle and tremors. If the latter is the case, the dose of the drug should be reduced. A drop in blood pressure can be observed especially at the beginning of treatment. The drug should therefore not be administered if the baseline pressure is severely reduced.

Sometimes changes in the blood count can also be observed. Dry mouth, weight loss, sweating, increased thirst and changes in intraocular pressure can be possible consequences, especially with high doses.

Other side effects such as sleep disturbances, general restlessness, altered sex drive, breathing difficulties and cardiac arrhythmias are rare.

Treatment with perazine can very rarely lead to the life-threatening neuroleptic malignant syndrome. However, most side effects can be avoided through a dosage that is individually tailored to the patient and discussed with the doctor. The drug should not be given to children under 16 years of age. Perazin should also not be used during the first trimester of pregnancy or while breastfeeding.