Triflupromazine is a member of a class of drugs called phenothiazines, which are dopamine D1/D2 receptor antagonists. Triflupromazine is used particularly to control violent behavior during acute episodes of psychotic disorders. It can also be used to control severe nausea and vomiting, severe hiccups, and moderate to severe pain in some hospitalized patients. Triflupromazine acts on the central nervous system. The mechanism of the anti-emetic effect is due predominantly to blockage of the dopamine D2 neurotransmitter receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and vomiting centre. Triflupromazine blocks the neurotransmitter dopamine and the vagus nerve in the gastrointestinal tract. Triflupromazine also binds the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M1 and M2) and the tryptamine D receptors (5HT2B). Dopamine hypothesis states that dopamine abnormalities in the mesolimbic and prefrontal brain regions exist in schizophrenia.

Triflupromazine Mechanism of Action Pathway References