Side Effects

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Along with its needed effects, perphenazine (included in this combination medicine) can sometimes cause serious side effects. Tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder) may occur and may not go away after you stop using the medicine. Signs of tardive dyskinesia include fine, worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs. Other serious but rare side effects may also occur. These include severe muscle stiffness, fever, unusual tiredness or weakness, fast heartbeat, difficult breathing, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, and seizures (neuroleptic malignant syndrome). You and your doctor should discuss the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of taking it.

Stop taking this medicine and get emergency help immediately if any of the following effects occur:

Rare

  1. Convulsions (seizures)
  2. difficulty in breathing
  3. fast heartbeat
  4. fever
  5. high or low blood pressure
  6. increased sweating
  7. loss of bladder control
  8. muscle stiffness (severe)
  9. unusual tiredness or weakness
  10. unusually pale skin

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Blurred vision or any change in vision
  2. difficulty in speaking or swallowing
  3. fainting
  4. inability to move eyes
  5. lip smacking or puckering
  6. loss of balance control
  7. mask-like face
  8. muscle spasms, especially of face, neck, and back
  9. nervousness, restlessness, or need to keep moving
  10. puffing of cheeks
  11. rapid or fine, worm-like movements of tongue
  12. shuffling walk
  13. stiffness of arms and legs
  14. trembling and shaking of fingers and hands
  15. tic-like or twitching movements
  16. twisting movements of body
  17. uncontrolled chewing movements
  18. uncontrolled movements of arms or legs
  19. weakness of arms and legs

Less common

  1. Confusion
  2. constipation
  3. difficult urination
  4. eye pain
  5. hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
  6. increased skin sensitivity to sun
  7. shakiness
  8. slow pulse or irregular heartbeat

Rare

  1. Abdominal or stomach pain
  2. aching muscles or joints
  3. back or leg pain
  4. fever and chills
  5. hair loss
  6. hot, dry skin or lack of sweating
  7. irritability
  8. loss of appetite
  9. muscle weakness or twitching
  10. nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  11. nosebleeds
  12. prolonged, painful, inappropriate penile erection
  13. ringing, buzzing, or other unexplained noises in ears
  14. skin discoloration
  15. skin rash and itching
  16. sore throat and fever
  17. swelling of face and tongue
  18. swelling of testicles
  19. unusual bleeding or bruising
  20. yellow eyes or skin

Symptoms of overdose

  1. Agitation
  2. confusion
  3. convulsions (seizures)
  4. drowsiness (severe)
  5. enlarged pupils
  6. fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
  7. fever
  8. hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
  9. shortness of breath or troubled breathing
  10. unusual tiredness or weakness (severe)
  11. vomiting (severe)

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Decreased sweating
  2. dizziness
  3. drowsiness
  4. dryness of mouth
  5. headache
  6. increased appetite for sweets
  7. nasal congestion
  8. tiredness or weakness (mild)
  9. unpleasant taste
  10. weight gain (unusual)

Less common

  1. Changes in menstrual period
  2. decreased sexual ability
  3. heartburn
  4. increased sweating
  5. swelling or pain in breasts or unusual secretion of milk

After you stop using this medicine, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time, check with your doctor immediately if you notice the following side effects:

After you stop using this medicine, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time, check with your doctor immediately if you notice the following side effects:

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: July 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.