(Prochlorperazine Maleate)
Prescription required. May be split. Product of UK/EU. Shipped from United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Prescription required. May be split. Product of Canada. Shipped from Canada.
Prochlorperazine is a medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of several conditions, including severe nausea and vomiting, schizophrenia, and anxiety. It belongs to a class of drugs called phenothiazines, which are first-generation (typical) antipsychotics.
By blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, prochlorperazine helps reduce symptoms like nausea, delusions, and hallucinations, making it effective in managing these health issues. Additionally, it may be used for other off-label purposes as determined by your healthcare provider, depending on your individual health needs.
To comply with Canadian International Pharmacy Association regulations you are permitted to order a 3-month supply or the closest package size available based on your personal prescription. read more
Prochlorperazine is available in several forms, including oral tablets, injectable solutions, and suppositories. It is essential to use prochlorperazine exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. The dosage and form may vary depending on the condition being treated.
Oral Tablets: Depending on individual needs, prochlorperazine tablets can be taken once or multiple times daily. They can be taken with or without food, but it is important to follow your provider’s instructions on timing.
Injectable Form: This form is typically administered by a healthcare professional in a hospital or clinic, especially for severe nausea or psychiatric conditions requiring immediate management.
Suppository Form: Prochlorperazine may also be administered as a suppository (inserted into the rectum), which is commonly used for patients who cannot take the medication orally.
It is crucial not to stop or adjust the dosage of prochlorperazine without consulting your healthcare provider, as sudden changes can impact the effectiveness of the medication or cause serious side effects.
Before taking prochlorperazine, you must inform your healthcare provider about any other health conditions you have, especially if they involve the following:
Low white blood cell count.
Heart Conditions: Including heart disease, abnormal heart rhythm, or low blood pressure.
Liver or Kidney Issues: These organs process the drug, so their function must be monitored during treatment.
Seizures: People with a history of seizures may need extra care when using this medication.
Dementia: Particularly for older adults with dementia-related psychosis, as prochlorperazine can increase the risk of death in these individuals.
Prochlorperazine may cause drowsiness or dizziness, which can impair your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery. It is important to monitor how you feel after taking the medication before engaging in such activities. Additionally, elderly patients (65 years and older) are at a higher risk for some side effects and should be monitored closely by their healthcare provider.
People with allergies to any of the components of prochlorperazine or other phenothiazine medications should avoid using this drug. Prochlorperazine is not recommended for use in children under two years of age or those weighing less than 20 pounds due to the increased risk of side effects.
While prochlorperazine is generally well-tolerated, it can cause side effects, some of which may be serious.
Common side effects include:
Dizziness: Often caused by a drop in blood pressure, making you feel lightheaded.
Constipation: A typical side effect of many antipsychotic drugs.
Drowsiness: This may impair your ability to concentrate and perform tasks that require alertness.
Blurred Vision: Another common issue, particularly at higher doses.
In rare cases, more serious side effects can occur, such as:
Parkinson-like Symptoms: Shaking, stiffness, and drooling. These symptoms are due to the drug’s effect on dopamine in the brain and may be permanent if not addressed.
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD): Involuntary movements, especially in the face or limbs, can be permanent and are a serious side effect that requires prompt medical attention.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): A rare, life-threatening condition characterized by high fever, muscle stiffness, and confusion. If you experience these symptoms, seek immediate medical care.
Blood Disorders: Prochlorperazine can cause serious blood-related issues, such as low white blood cells, leading to frequent infections or unusual weakness.
Liver Damage: Symptoms of liver issues, such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), dark urine, and light-colored stool, should be reported immediately.
Photosensitivity: Prochlorperazine may increase sensitivity to sunlight, so it’s important to protect your skin from sun exposure.
If you notice any severe or unusual symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately. In the U.S., side effects can be reported to the FDA at 800-FDA-1088, and in Canada, to Health Canada at 866-234-2345.
Proper storage of prochlorperazine is essential to maintain its effectiveness:
Oral Tablets: These should be stored at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Prochlorperazine can withstand short-term exposure to temperatures between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C), such as during transportation. Keep the tablets in a tight, light-resistant container to protect them from moisture and light.
Injectable Form: This should be administered by a healthcare professional, and you will not store it at home. It is typically kept under controlled conditions in healthcare settings.
Suppositories: These should also be stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions, typically in a cool, dry place.
Always keep all medications out of the reach of children to avoid accidental ingestion. If you have expired or unused prochlorperazine, consult your local pharmacy or healthcare provider about proper disposal methods.
By following these storage instructions, you can ensure the medication remains effective for as long as possible.
Prochlorperazine (proe klor per' a zeen) Compazine®¶ Compro® Procomp® Studies have shown that older adults with dementia (a brain disorder that affects the ability to remember, think clearly, communicate, and perform daily activities and that may cause changes in mood and personality) who take antipsychotics (medications for mental illness) such as prochlorperazine have an increased chance of death during treatment. Prochlorperazine is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of behavior problems in older adults with dementia. Talk to the doctor who prescribed this medication if you, a family member, or someone you care for has dementia and is taking prochlorperazine. For more information, visit the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs
Prochlorperazine suppositories and tablets are used to control severe nausea and vomiting. Prochlorperazine tablets are also used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions). Prochlorperazine tablets are also used on a short-term basis to treat anxiety that could not be controlled by other medications. Prochlorperazine should not be used to treat any condition in children who are younger than 2 years old or who weigh less than 20 pounds (about 9 kilograms). Prochlorperazine is in a class of medications called conventional antipsychotics. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.
Prochlorperazine comes as a tablet to take by mouth and as a suppository to place in the rectum. Prochlorperazine tablets are usually taken three to four times a day by adults and are usually given to children one to three times a day. Prochlorperazine suppositories are usually inserted twice a day. Use prochlorperazine at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use prochlorperazine exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of prochlorperazine and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once every 2-3 days. If you are using prochlorperazine to treat schizophrenia, prochlorperazine may help control your symptoms but will not cure your condition. Continue to use prochlorperazine even if you feel well. Do not stop using prochlorperazine without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop using prochlorperazine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and shakiness. To insert a prochlorperazine suppository, follow these steps: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If the suppository is soft, hold it under cool water or place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to harden it before removing the wrapper. Remove the wrapper, if present. If you were told to use half of the suppository, cut it lengthwise with a clean, sharp blade. Put on a finger cot or disposable glove, if desired (available at a pharmacy). Lubricate the suppository tip with a water-soluble lubricant such as K-Y Jelly, not petroleum jelly (Vaseline). If you do not have this lubricant, moisten your rectal area with cool tap water. Lie on your side with your lower leg straightened out and your upper leg bent forward toward your stomach. Lift upper buttock to expose the rectal area. Insert the suppository, pointed end first, with your finger until it passes the muscular sphincter of the rectum, about 1/2 to 1 inch (1.25 to 2.5 centimeters) in infants and 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in adults. If not inserted past this sphincter, the suppository may pop out. Hold buttocks together for a few seconds. Remain lying down for about 15 minutes to avoid having the suppository come out. Try to avoid having a bowel movement for about an hour so that the medication in the suppository can be absorbed into the body. Discard used materials and wash your hands thoroughly.
Before using prochlorperazine,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to prochlorperazine, other phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, promethazine (Phenergan), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine; or any other medications. If you will be taking prochlorperazine tablets, also tell your doctor if you are allergic to tartrazine (a yellow dye found in some foods and medications) or aspirin.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); antidepressants; antihistamines; atropine (in Motofen, in Lomotil, in Lonox); barbiturates such as pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital (Luminal), and secobarbital (Seconal); diuretics ('water pills'); epinephrine (Epipen); guanethidine (not available in the US); ipratropium (Atrovent); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), medications for anxiety, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, motion sickness, ulcers, or urinary problems; medications for seizures such as phenytoin (Dilantin); narcotic medications for pain; propranolol (Inderal); sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had glaucoma (condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to gradual loss of vision), trouble keeping your balance, seizures, an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG; test that measures electrical activity in the brain), brain damage, pheochromocytoma (tumor on a small gland near the kidneys), breast cancer, any condition that affects the production of blood cells by your bone marrow, or heart disease. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had to stop taking a medication for mental illness due to severe side effects and if you plan to work with organophosphorus insecticides (a type of chemical used to kill insects).
if you will be giving prochlorperazine to a child, tell the child's doctor if the child has chickenpox, measles, a stomach virus, or an infection of the brain or spinal cord. Also tell the child's doctor if the child has any of the following symptoms: vomiting, listlessness, drowsiness, confusion, aggression, seizures, yellowing of the skin or eyes, weakness, or flu-like symptoms. Be sure to tell the child's doctor if the child has not been drinking normally, has excessive diarrhea, or appears dehydrated.
if you will be using prochlorperazine to treat nausea and vomiting, it is important to tell your doctor about any other symptoms you are experiencing, especially listlessness; drowsiness; confusion; aggression; seizures; headaches; problems with vision, hearing, speech, or balance; stomach pain or cramps; or constipation. Nausea and vomiting that is experienced along with these symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition that should not be treated with prochlorperazine.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, especially if you are in the last few months of your pregnancy, or if you plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking prochlorperazine, call your doctor. Ptrochlorperazine may cause problems in newborns following delivery if it is taken during the last months of pregnancy.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using prochlorperazine.
if you will be having a myelogram (x-ray examination of the spine), tell your doctor and the radiographer that you are taking prochlorperazine. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take prochlorperazine for 2 days before the myelogram and for one day after the myelogram.
you should know that this medication may make you drowsy and may affect your thinking and movements, especially at the beginning of your treatment. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol during your treatment with prochlorperazine. Alcohol can make the side effects of prochlorperazine worse.
you should know that prochlorperazine may cause dizziness, especially when you get up from a lying position. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
you should know that prochlorperazine may make it harder for your body to cool down when it gets very hot. Tell your doctor if you plan to do vigorous exercise or be exposed to extreme heat.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Prochlorperazine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: dizziness, feeling unsteady, or having trouble keeping your balance blurred vision dry mouth stuffed nose headache nausea constipation difficulty urinating widening or narrowing of the pupils (black circles in the center of the eyes) increased appetite weight gain agitation jitteriness difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep blank facial expression drooling uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body shuffling walk breast enlargement breast milk production missed menstrual periods decreased sexual ability in men Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever muscle stiffness falling confusion fast or irregular heartbeat sweating yellowing of the skin or eyes flu-like symptoms sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection neck cramps tongue that sticks out of the mouth tightness in the throat difficulty breathing or swallowing fine, worm-like tongue movements uncontrollable, rhythmic face, mouth, or jaw movements seizures rash hives itching swelling of the eyes, face, mouth, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs vision loss, especially at night seeing everything with a brown tint coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time) erection that lasts for hours Prochlorperazine may cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store prochlorperazine suppositories in their wrappers; do not unwrap a suppository until just before you insert it. Store the medication at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
Keep all appointments with your doctor. Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory technician that you are taking prochlorperazine. Prochlorperazine may interfere with the results of home pregnancy tests. Talk to your doctor if you think you might be pregnant during your treatment with prochlorperazine. Do not try to test for pregnancy at home. Do not let anyone else take or use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. ¶ This branded product is no longer on the market. Generic alternatives may be available.
The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice. Patients should not use the information presented on this page for diagnosing a health-related issue or disease. Before taking any medication or supplements, patients should always consult a physician or qualified healthcare professional for medical advice or information about whether a drug is safe, appropriate or effective.
