Cyamemazine (Tercian): Why This Phenothiazine Is Not in U.S. Pharmacies and What Telehealth Can Still Do

Last updated: August 25, 2026

Cyamemazine is a first-generation phenothiazine that French clinicians still sell as Tercian (also called cyamepromazine). Families type those names after a French hospital discharge, a 1970s Theraplix label, or a relative’s current prescription from France or Portugal. It is not a current U.S. retail option. This guide explains what cyamemazine is, how the French public label describes it, and how telehealth can still help someone who needs an evaluation for psychosis, agitation, or anxiety.

This page is educational. It is not a diagnosis, a refill promise, or a claim that any plan will pay for a specific drug. Coverage varies by plan. Verify benefits before you book. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.

See conditions Klarity treats or start with online anxiety treatment if worry, restlessness, or tension is the main problem you want to discuss.

TL;DR

• DrugBank (DB09000) describes cyamemazine (Tercian / cyamepromazine) as a typical phenothiazine used mainly for schizophrenia and psychosis-associated anxiety. The same card notes atypical-like 5-HT2C anxiolytic activity and 5-HT2A effects that may limit extrapyramidal symptoms relative to some older phenothiazines. (DrugBank DB09000)
• France’s public medicine database lists TERCIAN 100 mg film-coated scored tablets (cyamemazine tartrate 146.4 mg, equal to 100 mg base). Authorization date 29 October 1986; commercialization declared 19 February 1972. ATC N05AA06. Titulaire: Atnahs Pharma France. ANSM RCP last updated 11 July 2025. (Base de données publique des médicaments, TERCIAN 100 mg)
• French adult indications on that RCP: acute psychotic states; chronic psychotic states (schizophrenia and non-schizophrenic chronic delusions); short-term symptomatic treatment of adult anxiety after usual therapies fail; short-term add-on to an antidepressant for some severe major depressive episodes (4 to 6 weeks only). Children over 6 years: severe behavior disorders with agitation and aggressiveness.
• Historic French adult daily range for psychosis and the depression add-on: 50 to 300 mg, exceptionally up to 600 mg; older adults preferably not above 100 mg. Anxiety: 25 to 100 mg daily, limited to 4 weeks. Children over 6: 1 to 4 mg/kg/day, preferably the oral solution. Those figures are a French label, not a U.S. prescription.
• HAS Transparency Commission (5 October 2016): “important” medical service for tablets/oral solution in acute and chronic psychotic states and short-term severe depression add-on; “moderate” for short-term adult anxiety after usual treatments fail, and for severe pediatric agitation/aggressiveness. (HAS avis 05/10/2016)
• Do not buy research-grade powder or unlabeled overseas tablets and swallow them. Phenothiazines as a class still carry LiverTox cautions. (LiverTox phenothiazine class note)
• Medicare behavioral telehealth in the home remains available on a permanent basis, with several other Medicare telehealth flexibilities extended through December 31, 2027 (HHS page last updated February 5, 2026). Klarity’s 2,000+ licensed providers can evaluate current symptoms and discuss medicines that U.S. pharmacies still stock. (HHS telehealth policy updates)

On this page

• What is cyamemazine?
• Tercian, France, and the public label
• How to read old identifiers
• Historic French doses
• Safety, class risks, and what not to do
• What telehealth can still do
• How Klarity fits
• FAQ

What is cyamemazine?

Cyamemazine is a typical (first-generation) antipsychotic in the aliphatic phenothiazine family. DrugBank’s public summary is short: clinicians use it mainly for schizophrenia and for anxiety that sits with psychosis. The same card says it can behave more like an atypical agent because of 5-HT2C (anxiolytic) and 5-HT2A activity, which may reduce extrapyramidal side effects compared with some older phenothiazines. That is pharmacology language, not a U.S. FDA label you can fill at a chain pharmacy.

If you found “Tercian” on a French discharge list, you are usually looking at cyamemazine tartrate tablets or an oral solution. Related Klarity first-generation guides include levomepromazine (Nozinan), promazine (Sparine), and thioproperazine (Majeptil).

Klarity does not restart Tercian. A licensed clinician can still review current symptoms and talk through medicines U.S. pharmacies actually stock.

Tercian, France, and the public label

Wikipedia’s compound page (identifier table cross-checked against registry links) states Theraplix introduced cyamemazine in France in 1972, later also in Portugal. France’s public database independently lists a commercialization declaration of 19 February 1972 for the 100 mg blister of 25 tablets, and a marketing authorization date of 29 October 1986. The current authorization holder on that fiche is Atnahs Pharma France. Prescription status: Liste I, national procedure, authorization valid.

The patient-facing indication block on the same fiche says Tercian belongs to the antipsychotic family and treats a condition with hallucinations, unusual suspicion, false beliefs, incoherent speech or behavior, and social withdrawal. People with that illness may also feel depressed, guilty, anxious, or tense. The product is also used for certain forms of adult anxiety. It is reserved for adults and children over 6 years on the 100 mg tablet fiche.

HAS (5 October 2016 renewal) rated medical service as important for tablets and oral solution in acute and chronic psychotic states, and for short-term use with an antidepressant in some severe major depressive episodes. The same opinion rated service as moderate for short-term adult anxiety after usual therapies fail, and for severe pediatric behavior disorders with agitation and aggressiveness (oral solution from age 3; tablets from age 6). Those ratings apply to the French market. They do not create a U.S. formulary listing.

Treat every milligram figure below as a foreign label. They are not a current U.S. order.

How to read old identifiers

Useful catalog IDs when a records team traces an old order (Wikipedia identifier table, verified against the linked registries):

• DrugBank: DB09000
• CAS: 3546-03-0
• UNII: A2JGV5CNU4
• PubChem CID: 62865
• ATC: N05AA06
• Formula: C19H21N3S
• French CIS: 6 027 124 8 (TERCIAN 100 mg scored film-coated tablet)
• CIP example: 34009 319 199 2 6 (25-tablet blister)

A code in a classification table is not a signal that a U.S. pharmacy can fill the drug tomorrow.

Historic French doses

The ANSM RCP (updated 11 July 2025) on the public database says clinicians should always seek the lowest effective dose, start low when the clinical state allows, and raise in steps. Split the daily dose into 2 or 3 takes.

Adults, psychosis (acute or chronic) and short-term antidepressant add-on for some severe major depressive episodes: 50 to 300 mg per day. Exceptional cases may go to a maximum of 600 mg per day. In older adults, preferably do not exceed 100 mg per day. The antidepressant combination may last only the initial period, 4 to 6 weeks.

Adults, short-term symptomatic anxiety after usual therapies fail: 25 to 100 mg per day, limited to 4 weeks.

Children over 6 years, severe behavior disorders with agitation and aggressiveness: 1 to 4 mg/kg/day. The oral solution is better suited in children.

Each 100 mg tablet contains 146.4 mg cyamemazine tartrate (100 mg base), plus wheat starch (70 mg, contains gluten) and lactose. Those excipients matter for celiac disease and lactose intolerance. They are not a reason to import the product.

Safety, class risks, and what not to do

The French RCP contraindicates hypersensitivity to cyamemazine or listed excipients; risk of angle-closure glaucoma; risk of urinary retention from urethroprostatic disorders; a history of agranulocytosis; and combination with non-Parkinson dopaminergics (cabergoline, quinagolide), citalopram, escitalopram, and hydroxyzine. The injectable RCP excerpt on the same public site notes dose-dependent QT prolongation. Do not treat a blog as a complete interaction list.

Phenothiazines as a class still carry LiverTox cautions, including cholestatic injury patterns best documented with chlorpromazine and reported, less often, with other phenothiazines. Do not buy research-grade powder or unlabeled overseas tablets and swallow them.

If someone is in crisis now, call or text 988. Telehealth is the wrong channel for neuroleptic malignant syndrome, severe rigidity, collapse, or sudden inability to stay safe.

What telehealth can still do

HHS states that Medicare patients can permanently receive telehealth for behavioral and mental health care in the home, with no geographic originating-site restriction, and that several other Medicare telehealth flexibilities run through December 31, 2027. The policy page was last updated February 5, 2026.

A video visit can take a history of psychosis, mood, anxiety, and prior French or Portuguese prescriptions; screen for depression and anxiety that often travel with psychotic-spectrum illness; and discuss currently available oral medicines when clinically appropriate. It cannot restart Tercian, and it cannot give an intramuscular dose.

Insurance may cover part of a telehealth evaluation. Plans differ. Prior authorization is common for antipsychotics. Confirm your plan before you book.

Check online anxiety treatment if worry or tension is the main problem today.

How Klarity fits

Klarity’s network includes 2,000+ licensed U.S. providers. You can start with a condition overview, then book a visit if a clinician agrees telehealth is appropriate. We do not promise that any plan will cover a visit or a specific medicine. We do not import Tercian.

See if a Klarity visit may fit

FAQ

Is Tercian available in the United States?

Treat current U.S. retail availability as gone unless your own clinician and pharmacy confirm a special-access product. The live public label is French. Do not import leftover tablets.

Are cyamemazine and cyamepromazine the same drug?

Yes. Same molecule, two naming systems. Tercian is the brand most searchers see.

Why do U.S. searchers still look this up?

Family members read French discharge notes. Google Ads Keyword Planner shows about 90 average monthly U.S. searches for “cyamemazine.” Volume is modest. The name still needs a dedicated explainer so people do not land only on overseas pharmacy pages.

Can Klarity prescribe cyamemazine?

No. A licensed clinician can still review symptoms and discuss medicines that U.S. pharmacies stock.

Does insurance cover a visit to talk about an old antipsychotic?

It may. Benefits vary. Ask the plan what it pays for an outpatient telehealth mental health visit. Klarity cannot guarantee coverage.

Disclaimer

This article is education, not medical advice, diagnosis, or a promise of treatment or insurance payment. Medication decisions belong to you and a licensed clinician. If you may harm yourself or someone else, call 911 or 988.

Sources: DrugBank DB09000; ANSM / base publique TERCIAN 100 mg; HAS Transparency Commission 5 Oct 2016; Wikipedia identifier table; LiverTox NBK548610; HHS telehealth policy updates.