Key takeaways
Perphenazine and trifluoperazine are both first-generation (typical) antipsychotics used to treat schizophrenia. However, they have some key differences. Perphenazine is also approved for treating severe nausea and vomiting, while trifluoperazine can be used for anxiety. While trifluoperazine can be used in children aged 6 and older, perphenazine can only be used in adults. Both medications are available as lower-cost generics, but perphenazine needs to be taken multiple times a day, whereas trifluoperazine is typically taken twice daily. They can both cause movement problems like tardive dyskinesia, but trifluoperazine has a higher risk of this condition, especially with long-term use. For this reason, trifluoperazine shouldn’t be taken for longer than 12 weeks if being used to treat anxiety.
