Drug Comparison
For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.
How to read this tool ▾
Rating scale
– Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: green → blue → yellow → orange → red. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
–±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Chlorpromazine(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Chlorpromazine
Thorazine
First-Generation Antipsychotic
FDA-approved indications
- Schizophrenia and management of manifestations of psychotic disorders
- Manic-type manic-depressive illness — control of manic manifestations
- Severe behavioral problems in children (combativeness, explosive hyperexcitability)
- Short-term treatment of hyperactive children with conduct disorders
Half-life16 to 30 hours
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Chlorpromazine
Consider when
- Intractable hiccups — unique FDA-approved indication among antipsychotics; 25–50 mg TID effective for persistent hiccups
- Porphyria — only antipsychotic FDA-approved for acute intermittent porphyria; manages psychiatric symptoms without precipitating crisis
- Severe nausea/vomiting refractory to other antiemetics — FDA-approved for N/V; antiemetic effect at lower doses than antipsychotic
- Historical prototype for low-potency phenothiazine effect — useful when sedation and anxiolysis are desired acutely
- +1 more
Consider an alternative when
- Orthostasis-prone or fall-risk patient — most hypotensive antipsychotic; potent α1 antagonism causes severe orthostatic drops
- Anticholinergic-vulnerable patient — highest anticholinergic burden among FGAs; dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, delirium risk
- Photosensitivity risk — unique dermatologic toxicity; blue-gray skin discoloration and corneal deposits with chronic use
- Seizure threshold concern — lowers seizure threshold more than high-potency FGAs; avoid in epilepsy
- +1 more
| Axis | Chlorpromazine FGA |
|---|---|
| Boxed Warnings | |
Agranulocytosis / severe neutropenia | |
Cerebrovascular events (elderly w/ dementia) | |
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) | |
| CNS | |
Sedation / somnolence | |
Activation / insomnia | |
Akathisia / EPS | |
Tardive dyskinesia | |
Seizure risk | |
| Metabolic | |
Weight gain | |
| Endocrine | |
Prolactin elevation | |
| Autonomic | |
Anticholinergic burden | |
Orthostatic hypotension | |
| Cardiac | |
QTc prolongation | |
Heart rate / tachycardia | |
| GI | |
Nausea / GI (general) | |
| Hepatic | |
Liver enzymes / hepatotoxicity | |
| Dermatologic | |
Photosensitivity / skin pigmentation | |
| Sexual | |
Sexual dysfunction | |
| Discontinuation | |
Withdrawal / discontinuation | |
| Interactions | |
CYP interactions / DDI profile | |
| Safety | |
Overdose toxicity | |
| Pregnancy | |
Teratogenicity | |
Lactation / breastfeeding safety | |