Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrecautionsSide EffectsWithdrawalOther Medication Options

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Precautions

Side Effects

Withdrawal

Other Medication Options

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The brand name Trilafon has been discontinued in the U.S., but generic alternatives may be available.

Trilafon (perphenazine) is an antipsychotic in a class called phenothiazines that is approved for use in the management ofschizophrenia.

Off-Label UsesIt is also sometimes prescribed off-label forbipolar disorderand managing severe nausea and vomiting.

Off-Label Uses

It is also sometimes prescribed off-label forbipolar disorderand managing severe nausea and vomiting.

What is the most important information I should know about Trilafon?Trilaphon can have severe side effects, including tardive dyskinesia, which may not go away after discontinuing the medication.Older adults with dementia-related psychosis should not take Trilophon.

What is the most important information I should know about Trilafon?

Trilaphon can have severe side effects, including tardive dyskinesia, which may not go away after discontinuing the medication.Older adults with dementia-related psychosis should not take Trilophon.

Precautions to Take When Using Trilafon

Trilafon is aconventional antipsychotic, also known as a typical antipsychotic, which means it is among the first generation of antipsychotic medications developed in the 1950s. This means it has more, and potentially more serious, side effects than newer,atypical antipsychotics. Still, it can be a good choice for treatment for certain people.

Because of the potential side effects that may not go away after treatment, it’s important to discuss with your doctor how the benefits of taking Trilafon may outweigh the risks.

Your doctor will likely monitor you fairly closely if you are on Trilafon and decrease or stop your dose if you are showing signs of some of these negative effects.

Common Side Effects of Trilafon

Some of the most common side effects of Trilafon include:

Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects don’t go away or are bothersome.

Less Common Side Effects

Other side effects that are less common that may occur are:

Serious Side Effects

Trilafon can also have severe side effects. This includes tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder that can be caused when taking antipsychotic medications.

Tardive dyskinesia may not go away after you stop using the medicine. Signs of tardive dyskinesia include fine, worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs.

If you experience those symptoms or any of the following serious side effects, call your doctor immediately:

Risks for Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related PsychosisThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued ablack box warning on all antipsychotic drugs, including Trilafon, due to the increased risk of death in older adults (those aged 65 and older) with dementia-related psychosis.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued ablack box warning on all antipsychotic drugs, including Trilafon, due to the increased risk of death in older adults (those aged 65 and older) with dementia-related psychosis.

Using Atypical Antipsychotics for Treatments

Trilafon Withdrawal Symptoms

Potential side effects of withdrawal from Trilafon include:

If you have any of these symptoms, be sure to call your doctor.

Other Medication Options for Bipolar Disorder

The brand name Trilafon is no longer available in the U.S., but its generic version may still be prescribed. However, first-generation antipsychotics such as perphenazine are used less frequently today. Instead, other medications are often prescribed to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Medications that are typically used for bipolar disorder may include:

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tardy M, Huhn M, Engel RR, Leucht S.Perphenazine versus low-potency first-generation antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(10):CD009369. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009369.pub2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Trilafon, brand of perphenazine, USP, tablets, injection.Maust DT, Kim HM, Seyfried LS, et al.Antipsychotics, other psychotropics, and the risk of death in patients with dementia: number needed to harm.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(5):438-445. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.3018

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tardy M, Huhn M, Engel RR, Leucht S.Perphenazine versus low-potency first-generation antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(10):CD009369. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009369.pub2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Trilafon, brand of perphenazine, USP, tablets, injection.Maust DT, Kim HM, Seyfried LS, et al.Antipsychotics, other psychotropics, and the risk of death in patients with dementia: number needed to harm.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(5):438-445. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.3018

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Tardy M, Huhn M, Engel RR, Leucht S.Perphenazine versus low-potency first-generation antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(10):CD009369. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009369.pub2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Trilafon, brand of perphenazine, USP, tablets, injection.Maust DT, Kim HM, Seyfried LS, et al.Antipsychotics, other psychotropics, and the risk of death in patients with dementia: number needed to harm.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(5):438-445. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.3018

Tardy M, Huhn M, Engel RR, Leucht S.Perphenazine versus low-potency first-generation antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(10):CD009369. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009369.pub2

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Trilafon, brand of perphenazine, USP, tablets, injection.

Maust DT, Kim HM, Seyfried LS, et al.Antipsychotics, other psychotropics, and the risk of death in patients with dementia: number needed to harm.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(5):438-445. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.3018

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