Agranulocytosis Associated with Chlorpromazine Therapy

Abstract

STUDIES concerning the clinical use of chlorpromazine (10[[gamma - dimethylaminopropyl-chlorophenothiazine) in various medical and psychiatric disorders were begun in 1951 in Europe. Since 1954 chlorpromazine has been used in increasing frequency in this country, the most common indications being mental disorders and nausea and vomiting.In the use of chlorpromazine the side effects encountered early were relatively mild in nature: drowsiness, nasal congestion, dermatitis, photosensitivity, transient hypotension, tachycardia, constipation, hypothermia, fever and Parkinsonism. Later, more troublesome side effects were described: jaundice of an obstructive type and agranulocytosis. Fortunately, the frequency of the last mentioned complications is not great.In this . . .