FDA Issues Warning on Thioridazine

The Food and Drug Administration has issued new warnings that contraindicate use of thioridazine (Mellaril) in combination with some serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including the antidepressants fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil). It is also contraindicated for use in combination with drugs that prolong the QTc interval, such as propranolol, pindolol (Visken), and fluvoxamine (Luvox).

Thioridazine was first introduced in 1959 as an antipsychotic and anti-anxiety/antidepressive. The drug inhibits the action of dopamine in some brain centers, correcting an imbalance of nerve impulse transmissions thought to be responsible for certain mental disorders.