A phenothiazine antipsychotic, also used for severe anxiety or agitation

Periciazine

An older phenothiazine antipsychotic, also used for severe anxiety or agitation, that is markedly sedating.

What is Periciazine?

Periciazine is an older antipsychotic medicine from the phenothiazine group. It is used to treat psychotic illness and is also used, usually short-term, to help calm severe anxiety, agitation or disturbed behaviour. A prominent feature is that it is markedly sedating, so drowsiness is common. Other effects include movement-related (extrapyramidal) side effects, low blood pressure, and antimuscarinic effects such as a dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation. Like other antipsychotics it can affect the heart's rhythm (the QT interval), so it is used with care and monitoring.

Class: Phenothiazine antipsychotic · Brands: Generic

Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Periciazine — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.

Written by Meds Global Health Clinical Team · Clinically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS, Founder & Clinical Director · Last reviewed · How we review
Class: Phenothiazine antipsychotic → Brands: Generic
Periciazine (Phenothiazine antipsychotic) — Meds Global Health reference card with 2D molecular structure
Periciazine — Phenothiazine antipsychotic. The image shows the active ingredient's 2D molecular structure.

What it is

Periciazine is an older antipsychotic medicine belonging to the phenothiazine group. It is used to treat psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia, and it is also used, often on a short-term basis, to help with severe anxiety, agitation or disturbed and aggressive behaviour. It is taken by mouth. Compared with some other antipsychotics it is notably sedating, which is why it is sometimes chosen when calming is wanted, but this also means drowsiness is a common effect. It is prescribed and supervised by a doctor, with attention to its range of side effects.

How it works

Many symptoms of psychosis are linked to overactivity of a brain chemical called dopamine. Periciazine works mainly by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, which helps reduce symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and agitation. Because it also blocks several other chemical signals, including histamine and acetylcholine, it has a strong calming, sedating effect and causes antimuscarinic effects such as a dry mouth. These extra actions explain both its usefulness in calming agitation and many of its side effects. It is taken regularly so its effect is steady, with the dose adjusted to balance benefit and side effects.

Company & origin

Originated / developed by: Generic (long-established).

An older antipsychotic medicine used in the UK for psychotic illness and for short-term relief of severe anxiety or agitation.

What it treats

Conditions Periciazine is used for

Schizophrenia & psychosisA serious mental illness where a person loses some contact with reality — treated with ant…Anxiety disordersPersistent, excessive worry and physical tension that interfere with daily life — treated …

Practical use

How to take Periciazine

General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.

  • Take it by mouth as prescribed, at the times your doctor advises, and do not change the dose yourself.
  • Be cautious with driving or using machinery, especially at first, as it is markedly sedating.
  • Stand up slowly if you feel dizzy, as it can lower blood pressure, particularly on standing.
  • Do not stop it suddenly; speak to your doctor first, as stopping should usually be done gradually.
  • Avoid alcohol, which adds to the drowsiness, and report any unusual movements or stiffness.

Weighing it up

Advantages & disadvantages of Periciazine

Advantages

  • Helps treat psychotic symptoms and can calm severe anxiety, agitation or disturbed behaviour.
  • Its sedating effect can be useful when calming is the main aim.
  • A long-established medicine taken by mouth.

Disadvantages

  • Markedly sedating, which can affect concentration and driving.
  • Can cause movement-related side effects, low blood pressure and antimuscarinic effects such as a dry mouth and constipation.
  • Can affect the heart's rhythm (the QT interval), so it needs care and monitoring.

Practical use

Good to know

The most noticeable thing about periciazine is how sedating it is: drowsiness is common, which can be useful when calming is wanted but can also affect concentration and driving, especially at first. It can cause movement-related (extrapyramidal) side effects such as stiffness, tremor, restlessness or unusual movements, which should be reported. It can lower blood pressure, particularly on standing, causing dizziness, and it has antimuscarinic effects such as a dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation and difficulty passing urine. Like other antipsychotics it can affect the heart's electrical rhythm (the QT interval), so it is used with care in people with heart problems and alongside other medicines that do the same. It should not be stopped suddenly without advice. Avoid alcohol, which adds to the drowsiness.

Who should not take it / use with caution

  • People who have had a serious allergic reaction to periciazine or related phenothiazines should not take it.
  • It is used with caution, or avoided, in people with certain heart-rhythm problems and very low blood pressure.
  • It is used with care in older people, in people with dementia, and in those with certain other conditions, under medical guidance.

Monitoring

  • Reviewing how well symptoms respond and adjusting the dose to balance benefit and side effects.
  • Watching for movement-related effects, drowsiness and low blood pressure.
  • Checking the heart's rhythm and other tests where appropriate, especially with other QT-affecting medicines.

Side effects

  • Drowsiness, which is prominent, along with a dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation.
  • Movement-related effects such as stiffness, tremor or restlessness, and dizziness from low blood pressure.
  • Less commonly, changes in the heart's rhythm (the QT interval), weight gain or hormonal changes.
  • Rarely but seriously, a severe reaction with high fever and stiffness (neuroleptic malignant syndrome), which needs urgent help.

Key interactions

  • It adds to the drowsiness of alcohol and other sedating medicines, so these combinations need care.
  • Medicines that affect the heart's QT interval should be reviewed when taking periciazine.
  • Other medicines with antimuscarinic effects can add to dry mouth, constipation and urinary problems.

Available as: Tablets and a liquid taken by mouth.

Answers

Periciazine: frequently asked questions

What is periciazine used for?

It is an older antipsychotic used to treat psychotic illness such as schizophrenia, and also, often short-term, to help calm severe anxiety, agitation or disturbed behaviour.

Why does it make me so drowsy?

Periciazine is markedly sedating because of the way it acts on several brain chemicals; this can be useful for calming but can also affect concentration and driving.

What are the movement-related side effects?

It can cause stiffness, tremor, restlessness or unusual movements; report these to your doctor, as the dose or medicine may need adjusting.

Can I drink alcohol with it?

It is best to avoid alcohol, as it adds to the drowsiness this medicine already causes.

Can I stop it suddenly?

No. Speak to your doctor first, as antipsychotics should usually be reduced gradually rather than stopped suddenly.

The wider class

About Phenothiazine antipsychotic

Periciazine belongs to the phenothiazine antipsychotic class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.

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Mental healthConditions and medicines for mood, anxiety, psychosis, sleep and dependence — used alongsi…

Authoritative sources

  • BNF
  • NICE CKS

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