Types of Side Effects

Side effects of Mellaril include drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, nausea, vomiting, nasal congestion, diarrhea, pale skin, breast enlargement, lack of menstruation and difficult ejaculation.

Features

The common side effects of Mellaril are usually mild and diminish with time as the body becomes acclimated to the effects of the drug, reports RxList.

Drug Interactions

A number of medications increase the risk of side effects from Mellaril, including the antidepressants fluvoxamine, fluoxetine and paroxetine and the hypertension drugs propranolol and pindolol. When taken with drugs that slow the nervous system, such as alcohol, sedatives or barbiturates, Mellaril may cause respiratory depression, a life-threatening condition in which the brain cannot control breathing, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Risks

Mellaril can also cause arrhythmia, or irregular heart beat, which has been fatal in some patients, according to RxList. Other risks associated with the drug include irreversible facial tics and twitches and a life-threatening condition known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Considerations

Because Mellaril has the potential to cause jaundice and movement disorders in newborns, doctors rarely prescribe the drug for use by pregnant women. If you have a history of blood disease, breast cancer, difficult urination, glaucoma, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, seizure disorders, stomach ulcers, liver or lung disease, pheochromocytoma, kidney disease or Reye's syndrome, it may not be safe for you to take Mellaril, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Source:

RxList: Mellaril

Mayoclinic.com: Phenotiazine (Oral Route, Parenteral Route, Rectal Route)