Side Effects of This Medicine

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 side effects occur:

Rare

Convulsions (seizures); difficulty in breathing; fast heartbeat; fever; high or low blood pressure; increased sweating; loss of bladder control; muscle stiffness (severe); unusual tiredness or weakness; unusually pale skin

Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Blurred vision or any change in vision; difficulty in speaking or swallowing; fainting; inability to move eyes; lip smacking or puckering; loss of balance control; mask-like face; muscle spasms, especially of face, neck, and back; nervousness, restlessness, or need to keep moving; puffing of cheeks; rapid or fine, worm-like movements of tongue; shuffling walk; stiffness of arms and legs; trembling and shaking of fingers and hands; tic-like or twitching movements; twisting movements of body; uncontrolled chewing movements; uncontrolled movements of arms or legs; weakness of arms and legs

Less common

Confusion; constipation; difficult urination; eye pain; hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there); increased skin sensitivity to sun; shakiness; slow pulse or irregular heartbeat

Rare

Abdominal or stomach pain; aching muscles or joints; back or leg pain; fever and chills; hair loss; hot, dry skin or lack of sweating; irritability; loss of appetite; muscle weakness or twitching; nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; nosebleeds; prolonged, painful, inappropriate penile erection; ringing, buzzing, or other unexplained noises in ears; skin discoloration; skin rash and itching; sore throat and fever; swelling of face and tongue; swelling of testicles; unusual bleeding or bruising; yellow eyes or skin

Symptoms of overdose

Agitation; confusion; convulsions (seizures); drowsiness (severe); enlarged pupils; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever; hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there); shortness of breath or troubled breathing; unusual tiredness or weakness (severe); vomiting (severe)

Other 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. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

More common

Decreased sweating; dizziness; drowsiness; dryness of mouth; headache; increased appetite for sweets; nasal congestion; tiredness or weakness (mild); unpleasant taste; weight gain (unusual)

Less common

Changes in menstrual period; decreased sexual ability; heartburn; increased sweating; swelling or pain in breasts or unusual secretion of milk

After you stop using this medicine, your body may need time to adjust. The length of time this takes depends on the amount of medicine you are using and how long you used it. During this time, check with your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:

Dizziness; nausea or vomiting; stomach pain; trembling of fingers and hands; symptoms of tardive dyskinesia, including lip smacking or puckering, puffing of cheeks, rapid or fine, worm-like movements of tongue, uncontrolled chewing movements, or uncontrolled movements of arms or legs

Other side effects may occur if the medicine is stopped suddenly or stopped after long-term treatment. Check with your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:

Diarrhea; headache; irritability; restlessness; trouble in sleeping, with vivid dreams; unusual excitement

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