Periciazine is a medication from the group of antipsychotics used to treat behavioral and mood disorders, as well as the symptoms of diseases such as schizophrenia that involve states of agitation or uncontrolled movements.
In this article we will see What is periciazine, what is it for, what is its mechanism of action, as well as its main and side effects and contraindications to take into account.
Periciazine is an antipsychotic drug from the phenothiazine family which is used to treat people who suffer from character and behavioral disorders. Phenothiazines are part of the group of classic antipsychotics and, in addition to having antipsychotic properties, they have antiemetic effects.
There are three groups of antipsychotics of the phenothiazine type: aliphatic compounds, piperidines and piperazines. The periciazine It is included in the group of piperidines
Health professionals prescribe this medication for the short-term treatment of anxiety and maintenance of psychotic disorders or schizophrenia. Its greater or lesser effectiveness compared to other antipsychotics has not yet been demonstrated.
What is it for?
Periciazine, as an antipsychotic drug, presents therapeutic effects on mood and behavioral abnormalities, whatever its origin. In this sense, it is a medicine that has been used in a wide variety of disorders and conditions.
Generally, and always under medical prescription, this drug is indicated for the treatment of:
Mechanism of action
Periciazine is a first-generation antipsychotic drug and Its main effects are sedative: as an adrenergic antagonist, blocking the actions of the endogenous adrenergic neurotransmitters, epinephrine and norepinephrine; and as an antipsychotic, reducing pathological excitement and emotional tension in some patients with psychotic symptoms.
This medication is part of the group of sedative phenothiazines with weak antipsychotic properties. In addition, it also has adrenolytic, anticholinergic, metabolic and endocrine effects, as well as an effect on the extrapyramidal system.
The periciazine It acts mainly in subcortical areas, producing what has been described as a central adrenergic blockade Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine or thioridazine, may cause hyperactive delirium preceded by restlessness and agitation, and it is suspected that this is due to their anticholinergic effects (by blocking the effects of acetylcholine).
Effects on cognitive functions
In normal subjects, the effects of neuroleptics such as periciazine on memory and cognitive performance They are mild and variable. Higher cognitive functions are largely unaffected, and in some people performance may improve as the existing disease improves.
For example, in patients suffering from schizophrenia, it has been shown that certain antipsychotics, such as trifluoperazine or haloperidol (although they do not belong to the piperidine group) could improve short-term memory.
However, chlorpromazine and toridazine (which, like periciazine, are also phenothiazines) may slightly impair short-term memory, but not immediate or long-term visual memory.
In patients who already have dementia, antipsychotic drugs can accelerate cognitive decline. There is clinical evidence that shows that Alzheimer’s patients who consume these types of medications have a higher risk of cognitive decline.
Contraindications and side effects
Between the most common side effects after consuming periciazine The following should be noted: drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, lightheadedness, dry mouth, constipation or diarrhea.
They can also be produced another series of effects that, if they persist, should be notified to the doctor: uncontrolled muscle movements, sudden changes in mood, difficulty sleeping, confusion or aggression.
There are also another series of unlikely but more serious side effects, which should be reported to the doctor immediately, such as: changes in vision, mouth sores, burns or spots on the skin, weight gain, changes menstrual periods and significant decrease in libido.
Besides, Periciazine should not be used if you suffer from any of the following disorders:
Periciazine for schizophrenia
People who suffer from an illness such as schizophrenia frequently present symptoms that include auditory and visual hallucinations, as well as strange beliefs or delusions. The basic treatment for this type of symptoms is usually antipsychotic drugs.
Research sought to verify whether periciazine, despite being a relatively old typical or first-generation antipsychotic (formulated in 1961), could have more beneficial effects than other atypical or second-generation antipsychotic drugs, which have been marketed more recently. .
Several studies comparing the effectiveness of periciazine compared to other antipsychotic drugs, both older and newer, have not been able to determine which of them is more effective.
On the other hand, in one of the studies it was found that patients who consumed periciazine had more side effects such as involuntary agitation, tremors, excitability and spasms, compared to other typical and atypical antipsychotics.
No other study has reported satisfactory results in terms of treatment and the relationship between the cost and effectiveness of the drug. This lack of evidence demands greater attention and research in future trials on the primary and secondary effects of this drug, so that they can benefit the patients themselves.
