Chlorpromazine
Also called CPZ.
The first antipsychotic, introduced in 1952, which changed how psychiatric illness was treated. It came out of a search for a better antihistamine to calm patients before surgery.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf.
Sources and notes
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
A nitrogen bonded to three carbons, with no hydrogen of its own. Its spare pair of electrons can still pick up a hydrogen ion, so a tertiary amine is a base.
From: standard chemistry.
Fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine bonded to carbon. Each pulls electrons toward itself, and each is larger than the hydrogen the carbon would otherwise carry.
From: standard chemistry.
Rings joined where they share atoms, or a single ring standing alone. Atoms in a ring are held in place, so this part keeps its shape while chains around it can bend.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C17H19ClN2S
- Molecular weight
- 318.9 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- 5.2
- Polar surface areatopological
- 31.8 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 0
- H-bond acceptors
- 3
- Rotatable bonds
- 4
- Complexity
- 339
Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem
142 mg/kg pure chlorpromazine, rat, oral
An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA via PubChem
Danger Toxic pictogram (GHS06) and Environmental pictogram (GHS09); hazard statements H301, H317, H331, H362, H400, H410
Reported Licence
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Chlorpromazine for human use (ANDA 080365, authorized February 13, 1974). Drugs@FDA
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Family
- Antipsychotics
- Chemical groups
- Aromatics, Halogenated
- Hazard classes
- Acutely toxic, Environmental hazard, GHS Danger
CN(C)CCCN1C2=CC=CC=C2SC3=C1C=C(C=C3)ClPubChem CID 2726 · Wikidata Q407972 · InChIKey ZPEIMTDSQAKGNT-UHFFFAOYSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Chlorpromazine?
- The first antipsychotic, introduced in 1952, which changed how psychiatric illness was treated. It came out of a search for a better antihistamine to calm patients before surgery.
- How toxic is Chlorpromazine?
- The reported LD50 of Chlorpromazine is 142 mg/kg (rat, oral). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictograms Toxic and Environmental. from sourcefrom source
- What kind of molecule is Chlorpromazine?
- Chlorpromazine has the formula C17H19ClN2S and a molecular weight of 318.9 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under antipsychotics, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Chlorpromazine called?
- Chlorpromazine is also called CPZ. from source
- Who licenses Chlorpromazine as a medicine?
- The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Chlorpromazine for human use (ANDA 080365, authorized February 13, 1974). from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChemOther values the sources report: rat, oral, 225 mg/kg; rat, another route, 58 mg/kg; rat, another route, 75 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
Sources and notes
- The same kind of moleculefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated groupsA structural neighbour in the same family or type group; the line names the group in its own words.
- Similar in shapecomputedRDKit Morgan/TanimotoNeighbours by structural fingerprint; the sentence names the chemical groups the two share.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit