TRIFLUPROMAZINE

Fetal Risk Summary

Triflupromazine is a propylamino phenothiazine in the same class as chlorpromazine. The phenothiazines readily cross the placenta (1). The Collaborative Perinatal Project monitored 50,282 mother-child pairs, 36 of whom had 1st-trimester exposure to triflupromazine (2). No evidence was found to suggest a relationship to malformations or an effect on perinatal mortality rates, birth weight, or intelligence quotient scores at 4 years of age. Although occasional reports have attempted to link various phenothiazine compounds with congenital defects, the bulk of the evidence indicates that these drugs are safe for the mother and fetus (see also Chlorpromazine).

Breast Feeding Summary

No reports describing the use of triflupromazine during lactation have been located. The molecular weight (about 389 for the hydrochloride salt) is low enough, however, that excretion into breast milk should be expected. The potential effects of exposure on a nursing infant are unknown.

References

1. Moya F, Thorndike V. Passage of drugs across the placenta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1962;84:1778–98.
2. Slone D, Siskind V, Heinonen OP, Monson RR, Kaufman DW, Shapiro S. Antenatal exposure to the phenothiazines in relation to congenital malformations, perinatal mortality rate, birth weight, and intelligence quotient score. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1977;128:486–8.