Thorazine Shortage?

[PRNMEDS]

My hospital has been without liquid Thorazine for the past eight (8) months (we still have pills, and injectable). Our pharmacy says it is no longer produced. Since Thorazine is our most common PRN - this creates a problem (pills are ok - but lot harder to "cheek" liquid).

Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions? Anyone know why they stopped producing liquid Thorazine? Thanks.

[Blackcat99]

I have heard that liquid Thorazine is very very expensive. I am wondering if that is why they have stopped making it?

[lovinghands]

I'm not that familiar with Thorazine as a prn. We have one physician who likes to prescribe it in dire situations. We use the newer antipsychotics & they are quite effective. You work on an adolescent unit, correct? I would advocate use of the atypicals. Our child psychiatrists use Seroquel quite frequently as a prn.

[CharlieRN]

I agree with lovinghands, Seroquel is the drug of choice.

[hollabackgirl]

with in the last 2 months my hospital has also reported the discontinuation of manufacturing liquid thorazine. it might not make money but sure makes it easier to give to a patient that cheeks tablets.

[hollabackgirl]

I'm not that familiar with Thorazine as a prn. We have one physician who likes to prescribe it in dire situations. We use the newer antipsychotics & they are quite effective. You work on an adolescent unit, correct? I would advocate use of the atypicals. Our child psychiatrists use Seroquel quite frequently as a prn.

i work with acute adult patients in a involuntary unit. seroquel does not seem to work as well as riserdal. Risperdal seems to be my favorite choice for pt's comes in liquid, pills, m-tabs and a long acting consta

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

There are many newer anti-psychotics that have fewer side effects than Thorazine. I believe that's why it was discontinued (side effects). There are some that are injectable and some that dissolve instantly when placed in the mouth, and they're as effective as Thorazine. Probably places that still use it, use it because it's cheaper.

Consider: Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Geodon

[suebird3]

We still use Thorazine pills. Unfortunately, Illinois is still a holdout on Consta. And Geodon IM can only be used, like, 2 times a month and be covered?!?!?!