Perphenazine

Antipsychotic Some Weight Gain Risk

Sedating: Can be Driving: Caution QT risk: Low Akathisia: Moderate Metabolic: Moderate Prolactin: Moderate ACB: 1 t½: 10 h Tmax: 2 h

A mid-potency typical antipsychotic that never really became fashionable in the UK. It’s sometimes used for psychosis and, in the past, nausea, but it’s mostly faded into obscurity here. Sits in the “meh” middle ground — not as sedating as chlorpromazine, not as strong as haloperidol, and therefore not anyone’s first pick these days.

Uses • Warnings

🩺 Main Uses

Schizophrenia; severe nausea (legacy).

🧪 The Science & Facts

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Half‑life (t½)

10 h

How long the drug hangs around. Longer half‑life = slower changes.

Time to Peak (Tmax)

2 h

Roughly when you feel the main effect after a dose.

What it hits (receptors)

Primary:

D2 (antagonist)

Secondary:

H1 (antagonist)M1 (antagonist)

How your body processes it (metabolism)

Substrate: CYP2D6

Caution with strong 2D6 inhibitors.

⚠️ Warnings

EPS risk; anticholinergic/orthostasis moderate.

⏬ Taper & Withdrawal

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If you’re reducing

Taper slowly; watch for EPS rebound.

Possible withdrawal

Insomnia/anxiety; EPS possible.

Info here is educational, not medical advice. Always taper with prescriber support if possible.

🧠 Trusted External Sources Last reviewed 22 Aug 2025, 21:23 by Connor O’Driscoll

Drugs.com

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NHS

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🔗 Interaction Checker

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⚠️ Black Box Warning

All antipsychotics: ↑ mortality in elderly with dementia‑related psychosis.

This is a plain‑English summary of headline safety warnings. Talk to a clinician before changing any medication.

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