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Calodal: Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026

Calodal - General Information

A phenothiazine antipsychotic with effects similar to chlorpromazine.

 

Pharmacology of Calodal

Calodal, the besylate salt of a metabolite of thioridazine, is a phenothiazine tranquilizer. Pharmacological studies in laboratory animals have established that mesoridazine has a spectrum of pharmacodynamic actions typical of a major tranquilizer. In common with other tranquilizers it inhibits spontaneous motor activity in mice, prolongs thiopental and hexobarbital sleeping time in mice and produces spindles and block of arousal reaction in the EEG of rabbits. It is effective in blocking spinal reflexes in the cut and antagonizes d-amphetamine excitation and toxicity in grouped mice. It shows a moderate adrenergic blocking activity in vitro and in vivo and antagonizes 5-hydroxytryptamine in vivo. Intravenously administered, it lowers the blood pressure of anesthetized dogs. It has a weak antiacetylcholine effect in vitro.

 

Calodal for patients

Given the likelihood that some patients exposed chronically to neuroleptics will develop tardive dyskinesia, it is advised that all patients in whom chronic use is contemplated be given, if possible, full information about this risk.

 

Calodal Interactions

No information provided.

 

Calodal Contraindications

As with other phenothiazines, Serentil (mesoridazine besylate) is contraindicated in severe central nervous system depression or comatose states from any cause including drug induced central nervous system depression.

Serentil (mesoridazine besylate) is contraindicated in individuals who have previously shown hypersensitivity to the drug.

 

Additional information about Calodal

Calodal Indication: Used in the treatment of schizophrenia, organic brain disorders, alcoholism and psychoneuroses. Mechanism Of Action: Based upon animal studies, mesoridazine, as with other phenothiazines, acts indirectly on reticular formation, whereby neuronal activity into reticular formation is reduced without affecting its intrinsic ability to activate the cerebral cortex. In addition, the phenothiazines exhibit at least part of their activities through depression of hypothalamic centers. Neurochemically, the phenothiazines are thought to exert their effects by a central adrenergic blocking action. Drug Interactions: Amiodarone Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Amitriptyline Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Astemizole Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Bretylium Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Chloroquine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Chlorpromazine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Cisapride Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Diltiazem Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Diphenhydramine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Disopyramide Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Dofetilide Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Doxepin Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Erythromycin Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Flecainide Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Fluoxetine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Fluvoxamine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Gatifloxacin Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Grepafloxacin Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Halofantrine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Haloperidol Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Imipramine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Josamycin Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Levofloxacin Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Maprotiline Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Metrizamide Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Paroxetine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Penicillin G Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Pentamidine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Pimozide Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Pindolol Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Procainamide Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Propafenone Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Propranolol Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Quinidine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Quinidine barbiturate Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Quinine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Sotalol Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Sertindole Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Sparfloxacin Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Terfenadine Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Ziprasidone Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Spiramycin Increased risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias Rivastigmine Possible antagonism of action Bromocriptine The phenothiazine decreases the effect of bromocriptine Donepezil Possible antagonism of action Galantamine Possible antagonism of action Guanethidine The agent decreases the effect of guanethidine Amphetamine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Benzphetamine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Dexfenfluramine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Diethylpropion Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Dextroamphetamine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Fenfluramine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Mazindol Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Methamphetamine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Phenylpropanolamine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Phentermine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Phenmetrazine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Phendimetrazine Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Mesoridazine Synonyms: Thioridazien Thiomethyl Sulfoxide; Thioridazine Monosulfoxide Analog; Thioridazine Thiomethyl Sulfoxide; TPS-23; TPS23 Drug Category: Antipsychotics; Phenothiazines Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved Other Brand Names containing Mesoridazine: Calodal; Lidanar; Lidanil; Serentil; Serentil Concentrate; Absorption: Well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Toxicity (Overdose): Oral LD50 is 560 ± 62.5 mg/kg and 644 ± 48 mg/kg in mouse and rat, respectively. Symptoms of overdose may include emesis, muscle tremors, decreased food intake and death associated with aspiration of oral-gastric contents into the respiratory system. Protein Binding: 4% Biotransformation: Not Available Half Life: 24 to 48 hours Dosage Forms of Calodal: Tablet Oral Injection, solution Intramuscular Chemical IUPAC Name: 10-[2-(1-methylpiperidin-2-yl)ethyl]-2-methylsulfinylphenothiazine Chemical Formula: C21H26N2OS2 Mesoridazine on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoridazine Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals