Perphenazine is an anti-psychotic medication in a group of drugs called phenothiazines (FEEN-oh-THYE-a-zeens). It works by changing the actions of chemicals in your brain.

Perphenazine is used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. It is also used to control severe nausea and vomiting.

Perphenazine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs. These could be early signs of dangerous side effects.

Perphenazine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Perphenazine may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

Do not use perphenazine if you have liver disease, brain damage, bone marrow depression, a blood cell disorder, or if you are also using large amounts of alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy. Do not use if you are allergic to perphenazine or other phenothiazines.

Before you take perphenazine, tell your doctor if you have severe depression, heart disease or high blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, severe asthma or breathing problems, history of seizures, Parkinson's disease, past or present breast cancer, adrenal gland tumor, enlarged prostate or urination problems, glaucoma, low levels of calcium in your blood, or if you have ever had serious side effects while using chlorpromazine or similar medicines.

Before taking perphenazine, tell your doctor about all other medications you use.

Perphenazine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Perphenazine may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

You should not use perphenazine if you have liver disease, brain damage, bone marrow depression, a blood cell disorder (such as low platelets or low red or white blood cell counts), or if you are also using large amounts of alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy. You also should not use this medication if you are allergic to perphenazine or other phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Permitil), prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro), promethazine (Adgan, Pentazine, Phenergan), thioridazine (Mellaril), or trifluoperazine (Stelazine).

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before you take perphenazine, tell your doctor if you have:

• severe or untreated depression;

• heart disease or high blood pressure;

• liver or kidney disease;

• severe asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problem;

• a history of seizures;

• Parkinson's disease;

• past or present breast cancer;

• adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma);

• enlarged prostate or urination problems;

• low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia);

• glaucoma; or

• if you have ever had a serious side effect while using perphenazine or another phenothiazine.

Tell your doctor if you will be exposed to extreme heat or cold, or to insecticide poisons while you are taking perphenazine.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

Taking antipsychotic medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn, such as withdrawal symptoms, breathing problems, feeding problems, fussiness, tremors, and limp or stiff muscles. However, you may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems if you stop taking your medicine during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking perphenazine, do not stop taking it without your doctor's advice.

Perphenazine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medication.