Prochlorperazine
About
Prochlorperazine belongs to a class of antipsychotic medications called phenothiazines used to treat nausea and vomiting during a migraine, schizophrenia, mania, anxiety in the short term, and vertigo (dizziness) due to ear problems such as Meniere’s syndrome. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases but are symptoms of many conditions like infections, motion sickness, an early stage of pregnancy, and gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying). Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects a person's ability to feel, think and behave clearly. Mania is a mental condition that causes intense excitement, high energy, and delusions (misbeliefs). Anxiety is a mental health disorder associated with fear, worry, and excessive nervousness.
Prochlorperazine contains Prochlorperazine which works by inhibiting a natural chemical in the brain (dopamine) that stimulates the vomiting center (chemoreceptor trigger zone – CTZ), thereby preventing nausea and vomiting. Besides this, Prochlorperazine also controls psychotic symptoms in Schizophrenia and has a calming effect on people suffering from anxiety or mania.
Take Prochlorperazine as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Prochlorperazine for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. Some people may experience dry mouth, drowsiness, headache, dizziness, stuffy nose, irritability, missed menstrual periods, impotence (difficulty maintaining an erection), anxiety, skin rash, skin redness, itching, or swelling. Most of these side effects of Prochlorperazine do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Do not take Prochlorperazine if you are known to be allergic to Prochlorperazine. Prochlorperazine should be used with caution in elderly patients above 65 years, as there is an increased risk of adverse effects. Do not take Prochlorperazine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding as it may cause adverse effects in the baby. Prochlorperazine is not recommended for children below 1 year of age. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight while taking Prochlorperazine as it may cause the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight. If you have fits, depression, diabetes, pheochromocytoma (tumor on the adrenal gland), enlarged prostate gland, Parkinson’s disease, dementia (impairment in memory and thinking), myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness), glaucoma, kidney, liver, heart or thyroid problems, inform your doctor before taking Prochlorperazine.
Uses of Prochlorperazine
Medicinal Benefits
Prochlorperazine contains Prochlorperazine that inhibits dopamine secretion that induces the vomiting centre (chemoreceptor trigger zone – CTZ) located in the brain. Thus, Prochlorperazine prevents nausea and vomiting. Also, Prochlorperazine control psychotic symptoms in Schizophrenia and has a calming effect on people suffering from anxiety or mania.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Prochlorperazine
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Stuffy nose
- Irritability
- Missed menstrual periods
- Impotence (difficulty in maintaining an erection)
- Anxiety
- Skin rash
- Skin redness, itching or swelling
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Prochlorperazine if you are known to be allergic to Prochlorperazine. Prochlorperazine should be used with caution in elderly patients above 65 years, as there is an increased risk of adverse effects. Do not take Prochlorperazine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding as it may cause adverse effects in the baby. Prochlorperazine is not recommended for children below 1 year of age. Avoid consumption of alcohol with Prochlorperazine as it may increase adverse effects. You are recommended to avoid contact of Prochlorperazine with the skin for a long time as it may cause swelling, redness or itching of the skin. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight while taking Prochlorperazine as it may cause skin to more sensitive to sunlight. If you have fits, depression, diabetes, pheochromocytoma (tumour on adrenal gland), enlarged prostate gland, Parkinson’s disease, dementia (impairment in memory and thinking), myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness), glaucoma, kidney, liver, heart or thyroid problems, inform your doctor before taking Prochlorperazine.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Prochlorperazine may have interaction with high blood pressure-lowering medicines (metoprolol), opioid analgesics (fentanyl, hydrocodone), laxative (polyethylene glycol 3350), anticonvulsants (pregabalin), antihistamines (diphenhydramine), anti-anxiety drugs (lorazepam, alprazolam), antidepressants (duloxetine), anti-sickness drug (ondansetron).
Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid the intake of alcohol while taking Prochlorperazine as it may increase side effects and cause breathing difficulties.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have fits, depression, diabetes, pheochromocytoma (tumour on adrenal gland), enlarged prostate gland, Parkinson’s disease, dementia (impairment in memory and thinking), myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness), glaucoma, kidney, liver, heart or thyroid problems, inform your doctor before taking Prochlorperazine.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol with Prochlorperazine as it may increase the risk of adverse effects and cause severe breathing difficulties.
Pregnancy
unsafeProchlorperazine is a Category C pregnancy drug. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester as it may cause adverse effects in the baby such as breathing problems, drowsiness, shaking, muscle stiffness or weakness. However, please consult a doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast Feeding
unsafePlease consult a doctor if you are a breastfeeding mother as Prochlorperazine may not be safe to use in breastfeeding mothers.
Driving
cautionProchlorperazine may cause dizziness, drowsiness or blurred vision in some people. Therefore, avoid driving if you feel drowsy, dizzy or experience any vision problems after taking Prochlorperazine.
Liver
cautionTake Prochlorperazine with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Prochlorperazine with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
cautionProchlorperazine may be given to children above 1 year of age if prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a healthy diet and a low-fat diet, especially in small portions, as it will be easy for digestion. Avoid eating over sweet food and include more salty food, especially if you have been vomiting.
- If you like to vomit at a specific time, avoid eating your favourite food at that particular time as your taste for that food may get turned off.
- Include more cool beverages in your food like flavoured gelatin, carbonated beverages. And also, when you drink with a stray, sip slowly to avoid swallowing air that may lead to gas or acidity.
- Drink any other liquid at least 30 minutes after eating food.
- If the smell of food makes you feel sick (vomit), do not cook food as it may worsen your condition. Let someone else do cooking or use prepared food from the freezer.
- Avoid consumption of alcohol as it may increase adverse effects.
Special Advise
Avoid exposure to direct sunlight while taking Prochlorperazine as it may cause the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Nausea and vomiting: Nausea is a feeling of uneasiness in the stomach that often comes before vomiting. On the other hand, vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying of stomach contents through the mouth. In short nausea and vomiting are not diseases but are symptoms of many conditions like infections, motion sickness, an early stage of pregnancy, and gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying). There is a receptor located in our brain known as the chemoreceptor zone (CTZ) that controls vomiting.
Schizophrenia: It is a mental disorder that affects a person's ability to feel, think and behave clearly.
Anxiety: It is a mental health disorder associated with fear, worry, and excessive nervousness that may interfere with daily activities. The anxiety symptoms include feeling more stress than required for that event and a lack of ability to set aside restlessness and worry.
FAQs
Prochlorperazine contains Prochlorperazine, an antipsychotic drug that works by inhibiting dopamine receptors that stimulate the vomiting centre (chemoreceptor trigger zone – CTZ) located in the brain. Thus, Prochlorperazine prevents nausea and vomiting. Also, Prochlorperazine decreases the action of dopamine (a chemical messenger involved in transmitting messages between brain cells) in the brain and helps to control psychotic symptoms in Schizophrenia.
Yes, Prochlorperazine may be used to treat vertigo (spinning sensation) caused due to ear problems such as Meniere’s syndrome (a disorder of the inner ear).
Prochlorperazine may cause photosensitivity (extreme sensitivity to sunlight). Therefore, it is recommended to avoid exposure to direct sunlight while taking Prochlorperazine.
You are not recommended to take Prochlorperazine with alprazolam as co-administration of these medicines may increase adverse effects such as confusion, drowsiness, dizziness and difficulty in concentrating. However, please contact your doctor before using Prochlorperazine with other medicines.
Prochlorperazine should be used with caution in diabetes patients as it may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. Therefore, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended while taking Prochlorperazine if you are diabetic.
Prochlorperazine may cause skin redness, itching and swelling if it comes in contact with the skin for a long time. Therefore, avoid contact of Prochlorperazine with the skin for a long time as it may cause contact skin sensitization.
