Purple People Syndrome

A condition affecting patients receiving long-term, high-dose chlorpromazine, which caused purple-gray discolouration of sun-exposed parts—later progressing to a permanent blue-black colour, and corneal and lenticular opacifications. The syndrome is due to accumulation of a photoactive metabolite of chlorpromazine, an aliphatic phenothiazine, which was once a first-line therapy for schizophrenia, bipolar disease, and psychoses. It is used far less commonly than the newer atypical antipsychotics—e.g., olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone
Adverse effects Pseudodepression, extrapyramidal reaction, including irreversible tardive dyskinesia, autonomic nervous system effects—e.g., urinary retention—weight gain, amenorrhea-galactorrhoea, infertility, agranulocytosis, hypercholesterolemia.

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