Trilafon is a prescription medication that contains the active ingredient perphenazine. This medication is administered orally up to four times daily or as indicated by a doctor. The side effects of Trilafon and its indications for use should be discussed with a medical professional before a patient begins taking this medication.
Indications for Use
Trilafon is primarily indicated for use by patients with schizophrenia, a mental illness characterized by abnormal thinking and inappropriate or excessive emotion, PubMed Health explains. This medication may also be used to alleviate severe nausea or vomiting symptoms in adult patients. Trilafon is part of a class of drugs called conventional antipsychotics and works by controlling unusual excitement or activity within the brain.
Side Effects
Patients taking Trilafon can experience unpleasant side effects during treatment. Mild side effects can include blurred vision, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, constipation, skin rash, weight gain, limb swelling, dry mouth, nasal congestion, headache or anxiety, Drugs.com warns. Women who take Trilafon can develop unusual breast discharge or swelling and may notice changes in their normal menstrual cycle. Male patients can develop impotence during Trilafon treatment, a side effect characterized by repeated difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection during sexual stimulation. These mild side effects typically diminish with continued use of Trilafon.
Patients who experience severe side effects while taking Trilafone should contact a doctor immediately. These side effects occur infrequently, but can include involuntary body twitching or tremors; confusion or restlessness; jaundice; vision alterations; joint pain; weak pulse or fainting; decreased urination; or flulike symptoms, according to Drugs.com.
Contraindications
Comatose patients or patients with subcortical brain damage should not be treated with Trilafon. Pre-existing brain damage can increase a patient's risk of developing a severe reaction characterized by a sudden increase in body temperature in excess of 104 degrees F, RxList warns. Use of high doses of depressants also precludes treatment with this medication. Patients with certain pre-existing medical conditions, including liver disease or bone marrow depression, should not take Trilafon. Additionally, this medication is contraindicated for patients with a known allergy to perphenazine or any other component of Trilafon. Improper use of Trilafon by hypersensitive patients can cause a potentially fatal allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. As the safety of this medication has not been evaluated in pregnant women, expectant mothers should not take Trilafon unless otherwise advised by a doctor due to the potential for fetal development complications.
