Serectil

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Serectil

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active ingredient Chlorpromazine
Form Tablet, Solution (Oral, Injectable)
Pharmacological class Antipsychotic Agent, Neuroleptic
General purpose Psychological stabilization and calming
Origin Synthetic Phenothiazine Derivative

What Type of Medication is Serectil?

Serectil is the trade name for a highly established, synthetic, single-ingredient medication whose active compound is Chlorpromazine, which is officially classified as a conventional antipsychotic medication. Chlorpromazine belongs chemically to the Phenothiazine Derivative family and functions as a neuroleptic medication, designed to exert a comprehensive stabilizing influence on the central nervous system. Its use is clinically recognized for managing severe mental health conditions where rapid and robust chemical modulation is necessary.

Chlorpromazine holds historical significance as one of the first compounds synthesized in its class, pioneering the field of pharmacological psychiatry. This enduring relevance is supported by its continuous inclusion on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. Its classification as a first-generation agent indicates its potent modulation of neurotransmitter systems, primarily through blocking dopamine receptors. Understanding Serectil’s identity as a conventional antipsychotic is crucial for recognizing its role in managing conditions characterized by severe disturbances in thought, perception, and emotional response.

What is the Main Purpose and Composition of Chlorpromazine?

The primary general purpose of Chlorpromazine is to provide significant calming and stabilizing effects, offering rapid relief from severe agitation and psychological distress by adjusting the brain’s chemical activity. Serectil is a single-ingredient product, comprising only the active substance, Chlorpromazine (usually as the hydrochloride salt), along with necessary pharmaceutical excipients.

This psychotropic agent is manufactured to allow administration via multiple routes (oral, intramuscular, and intravenous), being available as an oral tablet and a liquid solution (including an injectable liquid). This availability in diverse forms is essential to address varying clinical needs, facilitating both ongoing stabilization therapy and rapid intervention for acute restlessness. A review of its mechanism confirms that by affecting multiple chemical pathways in the brain, including those involving dopamine, Chlorpromazine's general utility is rooted in its capacity to subdue excessive mental and physical overactivity.

Regulatory References

  1. World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines
  2. DailyMed Monograph - NIH

What side effects are possible with Serectil?

Possible side effects and safety information

The regulatory safety profile for Chlorpromazine (Serectil) describes adverse reactions using established frequency classifications and system-organ-class groupings. Side effects are officially categorized based on how frequently they have been observed in clinical use and are not instructional in nature.

Frequency Classification Examples of Documented Reactions
Very Common Sedation, Dry mouth, Extrapyramidal symptoms (at higher doses)
Common Orthostatic Hypotension (dizziness upon standing), Constipation, Weight gain
Rare / Very Rare Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), Agranulocytosis, Torsades de Pointes

Official labeling documents effects across several physiological systems, including Nervous System Disorders (e.g., Dyskinesias, Dizziness), Cardiac Disorders (e.g., QT interval prolongation, Arrhythmias), Endocrine Disorders (e.g., Hyperprolactinemia), and Hepatobiliary Disorders.

Serious Adverse Reactions and Safety Constraints

Government regulatory documents identify several serious adverse reactions. The most clinically significant events include the risk of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal condition, and Tardive Dyskinesia, an involuntary movement disorder associated with long-term exposure. Hematological events such as Agranulocytosis are also documented as rare, severe reactions.

Safety notes include that sedation and orthostatic hypotension are most likely to occur at the start of treatment. The FDA label includes an explicit statement regarding an increased risk of death when antipsychotic drugs are used to treat behavioral disorders in older adults with dementia-related psychosis. The medicine is formally contraindicated in comatose states and in the presence of bone marrow depression.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Official Overdose Manifestations

Overdose with Serectil (Chlorpromazine) is documented in regulatory sources as potentially severe, involving multiple physiological systems. Documented central nervous system (CNS) manifestations range from profound drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and coma to states of excitation such as agitation and seizures. Neuromuscular effects include severe extrapyramidal signs, such as involuntary muscle movements, spasms, and rigidity. Autonomic effects such as dry mouth or inability to urinate may also be present.

Life-Threatening Outcomes and Required Actions

The most critical risks documented in official labeling involve the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Severe overdose can lead to significant hypotension (very low blood pressure) and serious, life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances, including QT prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias. Respiratory compromise and the development of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) are also documented severe outcomes.

Due to the systemic severity, official guidance requires immediate action. Seek medical help right away. The presence of severe symptoms—such as collapse, having a seizure, experiencing trouble breathing, or being unable to be awakened—necessitates immediately calling emergency services. Management is supportive, as no specific antidote is known. Population-specific regulatory notes indicate that patients with hepatic impairment and newborns exposed prenatally may have increased sensitivity to certain effects.

Therapeutic Uses of Serectil

Serectil (Chlorpromazine) is applied across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed, including significant psychological and behavioral conditions. It is commonly used across conditions presenting with acute episodes.

Stabilization, Behavior, and Specialized Relief

This medication is relevant in conditions characterized by periods of heightened symptoms, such as schizophrenia and the manic phase of bipolar disorder, and is applied in addressing manifestations like hallucinations, delusions, and severe excitement. It provides support that helps ease the overall symptom burden, assisting with maintaining functional stability when symptoms are more noticeable. Serectil plays a role in managing symptoms across major psychoses, supports the handling of severe behavioral manifestations in children, and is used for easing symptoms related to persistent hiccups and severe nausea and vomiting. It contributes to improved comfort during symptomatic periods, offering supportive relief when symptoms interfere with routine activities.

Quick Fact Relief for Symptom
Primary Benefit Symptomatic Support
Behavioral Focus Agitation/Combative Symptoms
Specialized Use Persistent Hiccups/Vomiting

Regulatory References

  1. NIH MedlinePlus Drug Information

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Who can and cannot use Serectil?

Serectil (Chlorpromazine) is authorized for use in Adults and in Pediatric patients aged 6 months or older for specific severe behavioral problems and conditions. Official regulatory information strictly defines which populations are prohibited, restricted, or require special consideration for use.

Contraindicated Populations

Use is strictly forbidden for individuals with a known hypersensitivity to phenothiazines, severe central nervous system (CNS) depression (including comatose states), or conditions such as circulatory collapse and bone marrow depression. The medicine is also contraindicated in patients with Phaeochromocytoma or Hypothyroidism, as defined in regulatory labels.

Age and Condition Restrictions

Serectil is not approved for treating elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis, a restriction associated with an increased risk of mortality. Safety has not been established in infants under 6 months of age. Caution and close monitoring are mandatory for patients with severe hepatic or renal impairment, cardiovascular disease, or a history of seizures. For women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, the medicine is generally not recommended unless the potential benefit justifies the risk, and its use status is officially classified as restricted.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

The regulatory profile for Serectil (Chlorpromazine) explicitly documents several interaction patterns, focusing on pharmacokinetic interference and severe additive pharmacodynamic effects.

Formal Interaction Restrictions

Co-administration is strictly contraindicated with medicinal products that significantly prolong the QT interval, a restriction enforced due to the cumulative risk of serious ventricular arrhythmias. Co-use with dopaminergic agonists is generally not recommended because of the reciprocal antagonism of pharmacological effects.

Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Patterns

Chlorpromazine is known to be metabolized by and act as an inhibitor of the CYP2D6 enzyme. Consequently, co-administration with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors may lead to reduced clearance and elevated plasma exposure of Serectil. Furthermore, combining Serectil with CNS depressants (including alcohol) results in additive depression, enhancing effects like sedation and hypotension, as officially documented.

Administration Constraints

Specific administration-timing rules apply to certain substances. Antacids or anti-diarrheal preparations must be administered with a time separation interval (typically one to two hours) from Serectil. This rule is in place because these products can significantly impair Serectil's absorption, leading to reduced systemic exposure.

Population-Specific Note

Official labeling notes that elderly patients demonstrate heightened susceptibility to certain pharmacodynamic interactions, specifically the risk of orthostatic hypotension and enhanced anticholinergic effects.

Mechanism of Action

The Primary Mechanism: Enzyme Inhibition longrightarrow Prostaglandin Reduction

Serectil (Dexibuprofen) is a non-selective inhibitor of the Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, targeting both COX-1 and COX-2. This inhibition is the core molecular step that reduces the synthesis of prostaglandins, molecules that function as local mediators in the Arachidonic Acid Cascade. The resulting physiological effect is the direct modulation of the biochemical environment driving inflammatory and pain signaling processes in the periphery.


Modulating the Arachidonic Acid Cascade longrightarrow Peripheral Dampening

The drug's activity directly affects the Arachidonic Acid Cascade (Eicosanoid Pathway) by blocking the conversion of arachidonic acid into eicosanoids. This mechanistic domain is crucial for exerting a peripheral action, as the reduction in eicosanoids occurs locally within the tissue. Physiologically, this leads to a reduction in prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation and a change in peripheral nociceptor thresholds.


Defining the Systemic Effect longrightarrow Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Profiles

The suppression of inflammatory mediators is the final step in the mechanistic cascade. This mechanism results in reduced signaling driven by the inflammatory mediator cascade. The reduction in nociceptive and vasodilatory signaling are the resulting physiological adjustments that define Serectil's primary mechanism.

Dosage and Administration Information

Administration and Dosage of Serectil (Chlorpromazine)

Serectil is available for administration via multiple approved routes: oral (tablet or liquid concentrate), intramuscular (IM) injection, and, in specific cases, intravenous (IV) injection. The oral route is generally used for ongoing maintenance therapy, while the injectable forms are reserved for rapid control during acute episodes or certain refractory conditions, such as intractable hiccups.

Use is characterized by a highly individualized dosing schedule that prioritizes safety through gradual adjustments. Treatment typically initiates with a low starting dose given in divided amounts daily, and the total daily intake is then slowly titrated upward until the appropriate level is reached. For psychotic disorders, adult initial oral doses often range from 30 to 75 mg daily, with maintenance doses generally falling within 200 mg to 800 mg daily, depending on the response.

Procedural Administration Rules

Parenteral administration requires strict adherence to specific procedures. Intramuscular injections must be administered deeply into the upper outer quadrant of the buttock, and the patient must remain lying down for a minimum of 30 minutes following injection due to the risk of hypotension. Furthermore, the intravenous solution must be significantly diluted with 0.9% sodium chloride to a low concentration (not exceeding 1 mg/mL) before slow infusion. Dosage adjustments are also utilized for specific populations; older adults and debilitated patients generally begin with a reduced dose, and pediatric dosing (6 months and older) is determined by body weight.

Dosage Summary (Examples)

Administration Route Typical Starting Dose (Adults) Frequency Pattern
Oral (Tablet/Liquid) 25 mg three times daily (divided) Daily, often divided doses
Intramuscular (IM) 25 mg Repeatable after 1-4 hours for acute need

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research evidence / Overview of Studies for Serectil

Evidence for Use in Schizophrenia and Chronic Psychoses

Serectil (Chlorpromazine) was studied in research exploring how symptoms change over time in schizophrenia and related chronic psychoses. Research centers on Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Systematic Reviews, which evidence has contributed to regulatory decisions regarding the medication. Studies monitored outcomes related to symptom intensity, variability, and daily functioning. However, many foundational trials are dated, and evidence quality varies across studies. There is limited information for long-term outcomes or comprehensive patient-reported data.

Evidence for Acute Excitement, Mania, and Severe Agitation

Research is relevant in trials assessing short-term or episodic symptom patterns in conditions like the manic phase of bipolar disorder or periods of severe agitation, primarily using short-term RCTs. Studies evaluated outcomes describing acute changes, particularly the immediate control of excitement. Data show patterns related to how symptoms evolved over defined time intervals. Certainty remains low regarding long-term effects when compared to newer pharmacological treatments, and comparative evidence is lacking.

Evidence for Specialized Conditions (Hiccups and Nausea)

Serectil was studied for certain non-psychiatric conditions, including persistent hiccups (intractable singultus) and severe nausea and vomiting. For these uses, the evidence is limited, drawing mainly from smaller clinical trials and pharmacological studies. Research examined outcomes related to physical discomfort, such as the cessation of hiccups. There is a paucity of large, dedicated RCTs, meaning that certainty remains low regarding definitive conclusions.

Long-Term Study and Follow-up Data

Studies were evaluated in research exploring how symptoms change over time. For chronic conditions, follow-up durations were limited in many individual trials, but systematic reviews describe patterns related to symptom recurrence. Long-term effects are not fully established for many aspects, particularly patient-reported outcomes.

Evidence in Special Populations

Studies explored how Serectil was observed in certain specific groups. For conditions involving periods of heightened symptoms, the medication was observed in studies for use in children aged 1 to 12 years. Data for certain groups remain insufficient. Results apply only to the populations studied.

What Is Still Uncertain About Serectil Research

The evidence highlights that the evidence quality varies across studies, with many foundational trials being decades old. There is limited information for long-term outcomes, and comparative evidence is lacking when assessing Serectil against newer pharmacological treatments.

Key Studies & References

  1. CHLORPROMAZINE tablet - DailyMed (Official FDA Drug Label)
  2. Comparison of Combination Olanzapine+Lithium or Chlorpromazine+Lithium in Treatment of First Manic Episode With Psychotic Features (ClinicalTrials.gov)
  3. Chlorpromazine: MedlinePlus Drug Information (NIH)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Serectil (FAQ)


Q: What is the most serious warning associated with Chlorpromazine?

A: The official regulatory labeling for this medication includes a Boxed Warning, which represents a severe caution issued by the FDA.

This warning addresses the Increased Risk of Death in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis. The label explicitly states that Chlorpromazine is not approved for the treatment of patients with this specific condition.


Q: What happens if I stop taking Chlorpromazine suddenly?

A: Official documents indicate that discontinuing this medication suddenly after long-term use may result in withdrawal-like effects.

These effects may include gastritis (stomach inflammation), nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and tremulousness (shaking). Regulatory documents describe that these symptoms are often avoided or reduced when the dose is gradually decreased under professional guidance.


Q: Should I take Chlorpromazine with food, or does it matter?

A: According to the official product information, the oral tablet formulation can generally be taken with or without food.

Official information indicates that if a person experiences stomach upset or nausea, taking the medicine with food is a documented option.


Q: What tests or monitoring do I need while taking this drug?

A: Regulatory labeling notes that close observation is often conducted during the 4th to 10th weeks of therapy to monitor for signs of agranulocytosis, which is a potentially serious blood disorder.

If fever with flu-like symptoms occurs, the official information suggests that assessment, including liver function tests, may be performed. Routine liver function tests are also described as advisable for patients undergoing prolonged therapy.


Q: Is Chlorpromazine safe for children aged 2 years old?

A: Regulatory documents indicate that Chlorpromazine is authorized for the treatment of certain severe behavioral problems in children aged 1 to 12 years.

These indications include specific behavioral patterns like combativeness, explosive hyperexcitable behavior, and for short-term use in hyperactive children who show excessive motor activity with accompanying conduct disorders.


Q: Does Chlorpromazine contain common allergens like lactose or gluten?

A: The official inactive ingredients list confirms that the tablet formulation of Chlorpromazine does contain lactose monohydrate as an inactive component.

The regulatory label does not explicitly state whether the product is free of gluten.

How should Serectil be stored and disposed of?

Official Storage and Disposal Requirements

To ensure the stability and safety of this medication, follow the requirements outlined in the official labeling:

Storage Conditions

Requirement Classification
Temperature Store at controlled room temperature, typically 20 C to 25 C (68 F to 77 F).
Protection Keep the product in its original, tightly closed container. Protect from moisture and excessive heat or freezing.
Children's Access The product must be stored out of the reach of children.

Handling and Disposal

Do not use the medication after the expiration date printed on the packaging. Unused or expired Serectil should be disposed of through a drug take-back program or an authorized collector. If no take-back option is available and the product is not classified as hazardous, mix it with an undesirable substance and seal it before placing it in household trash. Do not flush the medication unless explicitly instructed by the official label.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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