Effects of chlorpromazine in patients with hepatic disease

Abstract

Patients with cirrhosis were found to be extremely sensitive to chlorpromazine as shown by slowing of the electroencephalograph (E.E.G.), which was particularly definite in those who had had hepatic encephalopathy previously. Patients showing the most definite E.E.G. changes were in general very sleepy and took some hours to recover after taking chlorpromazine. It is concluded that phenothiazine drugs should be used very cautiously in patients with alcoholic liver disease.