Thioridazine (Mellaril) Lawyers

Thioridazine is an antipsychotic drug that was marketed under the brand names Mellaril, Novoridazine, and Thioril. It used to be widely used to treat psychosis and schizophrenia, but because of concerns over retinopathy and cardiotoxicity at high doses, thioridazine is no longer commonly prescribed. The use of thioridazine is mostly reserved for patients who have contraindications for, or have failed to respond to, other antipsychotic drugs.

Indications for the use of thioridazine were agitated depression, dysphoria linked to epilepsy, tension and anxiety associated with alcohol withdrawal, and off-label for insomnia and alleviation of opiate withdrawal. In Europe it was even used to treat psychosis in children and adolescents.

One of the known serious side effects of thioridazine is the potentially fatal neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a neurological disorder that usually begins with muscular rigidity. And in July 2000, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the maker of Mellaril, issued a letter announcing major modifications to the labeling of its product. New warnings on the label included:

• Additional precautions, such as the need for a baseline EGC to be performed and serum potassium levels measured prior to treatment
• Contraindications with an additional set of drugs
• QTc interval in a dose related manner and torsade de pointes-type arrhythmias
• Sudden death

The company then discontinued the drug in June 2005. But thioridazine is still available as a generic medication provided that it only be used in cases for which other forms of drug treatment are ineffective or otherwise inadvisable.

Other potential side effects associated with the use of thioridazine include:

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of taking thioridazine, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a qualified pharmaceutical injury attorney for an evaluation of your case.