Perphenazine

Also indexed as: Trilafon

Combination drug: Triavil, Etrafon

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Perphenazine is used to treat symptoms associated with psychiatric disorders, as well as severe nausea and vomiting in adults. It is in a class of drugs known as phenothiazine neuroleptics.

Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, a herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized interactions.

Beneficial May Be Beneficial: Side effect reduction/prevention—Taking these supplements may help reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a potential side effect caused by the medication.

Co-Enzyme Q10*
Avoid Avoid: Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements when taking this medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous results.

Bacopa

Lithium*
Check Check: Other—Before taking any of these supplements or eating any of these foods with your medication, read this article in full for details.

Vitamin C*
Depletion or interference

None known
Supportive interaction

None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability

None known
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An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

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Interactions with Dietary Supplements

Lithium
Lithium is a mineral that may be present in some supplements and is also used in large amounts to treat mood disorders such as bipolar disorder (manic depression). Taking lithium medication at the same time as phenothiazine drugs might increase the risk of nerve damage resulting in delirium and seizures.1 2 Controlled research is needed to determine whether combining perphenazine and with the comparatively small amounts of lithium found in non-prescription supplements might cause similar side effects. Until more information is available, people taking perphenazine should exercise caution when supplementing with products that contain lithium.

Co-Enzyme Q10
Phenothiazine drugs similar to perphenazine can cause changes in heart activity in some people, which might be prevented by supplementing with co-Enzyme Q10.3 4 Therefore, some health practitioners may recommend co-Enzyme Q10 supplementation to people taking perphenazine.

Vitamin C
Taking phenothiazine drugs can stop menstruation in some women. Two women taking phenothiazines similar to perphenazine began menstruating following supplementation with 6 grams of vitamin C each day.5 Controlled studies are needed to determine whether vitamin C supplementation might benefit women specifically taking perphenazine who are experiencing menstrual changes. Some health practitioners recommend vitamin C supplementation to women who stop menstruating while taking perphenazine. Vitamin C might also enhance the effectiveness of neuroleptic drugs such as perphenazine in the treatment of schizophrenia. One uncontrolled study showed that 10 of 13 individuals experienced a reduction in disorganized thoughts, hallucinations, and suspicious thoughts when 8 grams of vitamin C was added to their daily drug therapy.6 Controlled studies are needed to show whether people taking perphenazine for schizophrenia might benefit from vitamin C supplementation.

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Interactions with Herbs

Bacopa
An animal study found that the effects of chlorpromazine, a drug similar to (perphenazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine), were enhanced when a bacopa extract was given along with it.7 Until more is known, people taking medications from this family of drugs (called phenothiazines) should not take bacopa.

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Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds

Alcohol
Taking perphenazine and alcohol together may enhance the side effects of alcohol, such as drowsiness and dizziness, and might increase the risk of suicide.8 Consequently, people who are taking perphenazine should avoid alcohol.

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References
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