chlorpromazine

noun chlor·prom·a·zine \ klȯr-ˈprä-mə-ˌzēn \

Updated on: 19 Mar 2018

Definition of chlorpromazine

: a phenothiazine C₁₇H₁₉ClN₂S used chiefly as a tranquilizer especially in the form of its hydrochloride to control the symptoms of psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia)

Recent Examples of chlorpromazine from the Web

By 1960, doctors had the first drug that could effectively blunt psychosis — chlorpromazine, brand name Thorazine — giving tens of thousands of residents a chance to live independently.

— benedict carey, New York Times, "Trump Wants More Asylums — and Some Psychiatrists Agree," 5 Mar. 2018
Those doctors offered an acid reducer for his stomach and more chlorpromazine.

— lisa sanders, m.d., New York Times, "Why Couldn’t This Man Stop Hiccupping?," 20 July 2017
Looking back, the purely unexpected discovery of lithium, chlorpromazine (the first antipsychotic drug) and several antidepressants around the 1950s promised rapid therapeutic progress.

— dr. claes wahlestedt, miamiherald, "In treating mental illness, drugs are critical. Yet few are in the pipeline.," 6 June 2017
And last year, scientists working with mouse brain cells found that the anti-malaria drug quinacrine and the anti-psychotic drug chlorpromazine interfered with the ability of prions to cause normal brain protein to misfold.

— mark johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "In tracking a lethal family of diseases that threatens humans and animals, scientists have become the hunters," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chlorpromazine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chlorpromazine

chlor- + propyl + methyl + azine

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1952

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

chlorpromazine

noun chlor·prom·a·zine \ klōr-ˈpräm-ə-ˌzēn, klȯr- \

medical Definition of chlorpromazine

: a phenothiazine derivative that has antipsychotic, sedative, and antiemetic properties and is used in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₇H₁₉ClN₂S·HCl especially to manage the symptoms of psychotic disorders (as schizophrenia) — see largactil, thorazine