Pharmacological activities of chlorpromazine involved in the inhibition of tumour necrosis factor production in vivo in mice.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) was shown to inhibit tumour necrosis factor (TNF) production in vivo. Several drugs sharing one of the various pharmacological activities of CPZ were tested in endotoxin-treated mice. It was found that alpha-blockers (prazosin, idazoxan, phenoxybenzamine), antiserotoninergics (methysergide, methergoline) and antihistamine (chlorpheniramine, promethazine) also inhibited TNF production indicating that the effectiveness of CPZ in protecting from endotoxin shock is due to its multiple pharmacological activities.