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Science 2 October 1964:
Vol. 146. no. 3640, pp. 81 - 83
DOI: 10.1126/science.146.3640.81
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Articles

7-Hydroxychlorpromazine: Potential Toxic Drug Metabolite in Psychiatric Patients

Thomas L. Perry 1, Charles F. A. Culling 1, Kenneth Berry 1, and Shirley Hansen 1

1 Departments of Pharmacology and Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and Provincial Mental Hospital, Essondale, British Columbia

7-Hydroxychlorpromazine was isolated from liver and urine of psychiatric patients treated with high dosages of chlorpromazine for long periods. These patients developed a purple pigmentation limited to areas of skin exposed to sunlight, as well as opacities of the cornea and lens. Large amounts of melanin were found only in the pigmented skin. It seems likely that a toxic compound is produced by the action of ultraviolet light on a 7-hydroxylated chlorpromazine derivative deposited in skin, cornea, and lens, and that this in turn leads to excessive melanin production and eye changes.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Microprobe Analysis of Chlorpromazine Pigmentation.
T. L. Benning, K. M. McCormack, P. Ingram, D. L. Kaplan, and J. D. Shelburne (1988)
Arch Dermatol 124, 1541-1544
   Abstract »    PDF »
Phototoxic Reactions Induced by High Doses of Chlorpromazine and Thioridazine.
A. Satanove and J. S. McIntosh (1967)
JAMA 200, 209-212
   Abstract »    PDF »
Skin Changes and Chlorpromazine: Some Hazards of Long-Term Drug Therapy.
A. S. Zelickson (1966)
JAMA 198, 341-344
   Abstract »    PDF »
Ocular Manifestations of Chronic Phenothiazine Derivative Administration.
W. S. McCLANAHAN, J. E. HARRIS, W. H. KNOBLOCH, L. M. TREDICI, and R. L. UDASCO (1966)
Arch Ophthalmol 75, 319-325
   Abstract »    PDF »
Skin Pigmentation and Chlorpromazine.
A. S. Zelickson (1965)
JAMA 194, 670-672
   Abstract »    PDF »
Pigmentation Due to Phenothiazines in High and Prolonged Dosage.
A. Satanove (1965)
JAMA 191, 263-268
   Abstract »    PDF »


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