The drug Leptryl® was a tranquilizer used as a psychosedative agent to treat anxiety, mild depression and to relieve stress, or to facilitate social or professional adaptation. It was also used as a mild tranquilizer in obstetric and surgery. The active principle of Leptryl is the synthetic phenothiazine derivative perimetazine (initially known as 1317-AN) which has antipsychotic properties. It displays sedative and muscle relaxant effects, and can induce sedation and hypothermia. The mode of action of perimetazine is similar to that of the archetypal phenothiazine-type drug chlorpromazine and related products (fluphenazine, perphenazine, thioridazine, …) which are used to treat multiple mental health and physical conditions. Perimetazine was considered as a low potency phenothiazine, used to treat behavioral problems and to put patients at ease prior to a surgery. Leptryl® is no longer used today but other phenothiazines remain largely prescribed.
