Chlorpromazine in the Control of Side Effects of Para-Aminosalicylic Acid Administration

¹ Chief, Tuberculosis Service, Veterans Administration Center.

1. A group of 91 patients who had developed unpleasant side effects (mostly gastrointestinal) attributable to para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) during courses of antituberculous chemotherapy, were treated with chlorpromazine orally. This latter drug was administered in doses of 25 mg. three times a day for two to six weeks in most cases.

2. There was complete relief of symptoms in 70.3 per cent of patients, partial relief in 3.3 per cent, and no relief in 26.4 per cent. Subsidence of symptoms was brought about in one to six days.

3. In the doses used, side effects of chlorpromazine were few and not troublesome. Drowsiness occurred in 19.7 per cent, dizziness on standing in 2.2 per cent, vague feeling of dizziness or "light-headedness" in 3.3 per cent, and terrifying nightmares in 2.2 per cent. In all cases, except two with nightmares, symptoms were controlled by reducing the dosage of chlorpromazine.

4. Oral administration of chlorpromazine is an effective method in the control of most unpleasant side effects of para-aminosalicylic acid.