Prochlorperazine Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Prochlorperazine Tablet (prochlorperazine maleate) is a phenothiazine medicine that acts on the central nervous system. It is used to control nausea, vomiting and dizziness, and also to treat certain mental health conditions and anxiety. It works by affecting dopamine and serotonin, brain chemicals that carry messages between nerve cells, helping correct imbalances that cause these symptoms. It should be taken exactly as prescribed, and it comes with specific precautions, including risks in pregnancy and the elderly.

What is Prochlorperazine Tablet

Prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine medicine that acts on the central nervous system. It is used to control nausea, vomiting and dizziness, and also to treat certain mental health conditions and anxiety.

Prochlorperazine Tablet uses

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness and vertigo, including Ménière's syndrome
• Migraine-related nausea and vomiting
• Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
• Short-term treatment of anxiety

Benefits of Prochlorperazine Tablet

• Helps stop feeling or being sick (nausea and vomiting)
• Helps control dizziness and balance problems such as Ménière's disease
• Helps control symptoms of psychotic disorders such as agitation, confusion, delusions and tension

How Prochlorperazine Tablet works

Prochlorperazine works by affecting brain chemicals called dopamine and serotonin that carry messages between nerve cells, helping to correct imbalances that cause psychotic symptoms as well as nausea and vomiting.

Prochlorperazine Tablet dosage

It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food. Swallow tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not chew the tablets. Do not crush the tablets or handle them more than needed, because this may cause a skin reaction.

Take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you and do not change your dose without checking first. Keep taking this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop; do not stop suddenly or lower the dose on your own.

If you miss a dose, skip it and go back to your regular schedule; do not double up to make up for a missed dose.

Buccal tablets are placed high up along the top gum under the upper lip and left to dissolve slowly; they must not be swallowed whole or chewed, and are best taken after meals.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablets (swallowed whole)

Side effects of Prochlorperazine Tablet

Common

• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Restlessness
• Trembling, rigid posture, mask-like face, slow movements, shuffling unbalanced walk
• Uncontrollable twitching, jerking or writhing movements
• Blurred vision
• Low blood pressure
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Dizziness
• Stuffy nose
• Skin more sensitive to sunlight
• Weight changes
• Swelling of the breasts or unusual milk production
• Menstrual changes

Serious

• Allergic reaction: rash, swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: high fever, muscle stiffness, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, sweating
• Uncontrolled movements of the tongue, face, mouth or jaw (tardive dyskinesia)
• Signs of low blood cell counts: frequent infections, fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, unusual bruising or bleeding
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine
• Fast, uneven or forceful heartbeats with breathing problems, chest pain or wheezing
• Blood clots: swelling, pain or redness in a leg, or sudden chest pain and difficulty breathing
• Severe muscle stiffness, unusual eye movements, or loss of muscle control
• Sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy unless your doctor decides the benefits clearly outweigh the risks, because it may affect the baby, especially if used near the end of pregnancy.
•  Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine because it is not known if it passes into breast milk.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems before taking this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease before taking this medicine, as it may need monitoring.
• Avoid or be careful with alcohol while taking this medicine, since it can increase drowsiness, dizziness and the risk of serious breathing difficulties. This medicine can cause drowsiness or reduced alertness, so be careful driving or using machinery until you know how it affects you.
• Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly or lower the dose without checking with your doctor, as this could make your condition worse or increase side effects.
• This medicine can make your skin much more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid direct sunlight, wear protective clothing, and use sunscreen.
• Elderly people with dementia who take this type of medicine have a higher risk of death, so it is not approved for treating dementia-related confusion or psychosis.
• This medicine can cause tardive dyskinesia, a condition with uncontrollable movements of the face and tongue that may be permanent, especially with long-term use in elderly women.
• Do not use in children under 2 years of age or weighing less than 10 kg (sources vary slightly, some state 9 kg).

Storage

• Keep in a cool, dry place, away from moisture, heat or sunlight; do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills
• Protect from light
• Store below 25°C
• Keep tablets in their original pack until it is time to take them
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not use after the expiry date
• Return any unused or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal; do not throw medicines away via wastewater or household waste

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• Call your doctor straight away or go to the emergency department if you notice uncontrolled movements of the tongue, face, mouth or jaw, such as puffing of the cheeks or chewing movements.
• Seek emergency medical help if you have signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome: high fever, muscle stiffness, confusion, fast heartbeat, or excessive sweating.
• Tell your doctor right away if you get frequent infections, fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, or bruising, as these could be signs of a blood problem.
• Seek medical advice immediately if you notice swelling, pain or redness in the leg, or sudden chest pain and difficulty breathing, as these could be signs of a blood clot.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, get urgent medical attention immediately even if you feel fine.

Alternatives

• Ondansetron
• Domperidone
• Promethazine