Category- Allopathy
Medicine Highlights
| Uses | 1. To treat symptoms of schizophrenia like delusions, hallucinations, and psychosis 2. To treat nausea and vomiting after surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy 3. To manage dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders |
| Common Side Effects | 1. Constipation 2. Dizziness 3. Drowsiness 4. Dry mouth |
| Additional Information | 1. Avoid driving or any hazardous activity after consuming prochlorperazine, as it can cause dizziness or drowsiness. 2. Its off-label indications include migraines and severe pains This medicine should be used with prescription only. |
| Storage | 1. The medicine should be stored at room temperature. 2. Keep away from sunlight and moisture. 3. Keep away from the reach of children |
| How to Take This Medicine | To be taken orally with a sip of water |
Prochlorperazine Uses
Prochlorperazine 5 mg (EF) is an oral prescription medicine belonging to the category of anti-psychotics and is used for the following indications:
- Positive symptoms of schizophrenia like delusions, hallucinations, and psychosis
- Nausea and vomiting after surgeries, chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Dizziness, vertigo and balance disorder
Prochlorperazine side effects
More Common
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
Less Common
- Agitation
- Black, tarry stools
- Chest pain
- Clay-colored stools
- Constipation
- Dark urine
- Decrease in how much or how often you urinate
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty in swallowing and breathing
- Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when suddenly getting up from a lying or sitting position
- Drooling
- Drowsiness
- Dryness of the mouth
- Fever and chills
- Headache
- Inability to have or keep an erection
- Loss of appetite
- Mask-like face
- Nasal congestion
- Nausea
- Painful or difficult urination
- Shuffling walk
- Sore throat
- Sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
- Stomach pain
- Swollen glands
- Tightness of the throat
- Trembling and shaking of the fingers and hands
- Uncontrolled chewing movements and movements of the arms and legs
- Unpleasant breath odor
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Vomiting of blood
- Yellow eyes or skin
How Prochlorperazine works
This medicine works by blocking dopamine, a brain chemical that can become overactive in certain conditions like psychosis and nausea. In psychosis, excess dopamine overstimulates the brain, leading to confusion, hallucinations, and disorganized thoughts, and this medicine works by reducing brain activity and helps to restore clearer thinking. Dopamine also triggers the reflex for nausea and sickness in the brain vomiting center; prochlorperazine blocks it and prevents vomiting. In this way, prochlorperazine calms both mental disturbances and stomach upset by quieting overactive dopamine signals.
Safety Measures and Warning
Pregnancy
Prochlorperazine may be used in pregnancy if needed, but only at the lowest dose for a short time. Always inform your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to conceive.
Kidney and Liver Problems
Use prochlorperazine cautiously if you have kidney or liver issues. It may build up in your body and cause more side effects. Let your doctor know before using it.
Past Mental Health Issues
Prochlorperazine directly acts on the brain and causes multiple side effects like sedation, drowsiness, and suicidal thoughts. Inform the doctor about your past mental health issues before using Prochlorperazine.
Breastfeeding
Prochlorperazine may pass into breast milk, so it’s used cautiously during breastfeeding; for short-term, low-dose use may be allowed if needed but always consult your doctor and monitor the baby for drowsiness or feeding issues.
Heart Problems
Prochlorperazine should be used with caution in heart patients, as its calcium channel blocking effect can influence blood vessel tone and, in rare cases, affect heart rhythm or blood pressure.
Prochlorperazine Interaction with Food Product
Avoid consuming alcohol and smoking simultaneously together, as it may affect the drug’s action and show an effect on the brain, leading to severe drowsiness, sedation, and coma in severe cases.
Prochlorperazine Interaction with Other Medicines
Avoid taking Prochlorperazine 5 mg (EF) with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:
Prochlorperazine Chemical Structure
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name
2-chloro-10-[3-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]-10H-phenothiazine
Intake routine/cycle
Daily dose
Take Prochlorperazine exactly as your doctor recommends. The dose may change based on your condition and how well you respond. Do not take more than prescribed without consulting your doctor.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take your medicine, take the medication as soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.
Overdose
It is not recommended to take more than 40 mg of Prochlorperazine per day, as it may cause severe overdosing effects like extreme drowsiness, heart problems, confusion, unconsciousness, sweating, double vision, low blood pressure, and slurred speech. Immediately seek medical attention and meet the doctor if necessary.
Storage
- Store the medicine at room temperature
- Keep away from sunlight and moisture
- Keep out of reach of children
Directions for use
- Take Prochlorperazine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the same time each day.
- Do not stop taking Prochlorperazine without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better.
- If you forget to take Prochlorperazine, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose.
Prochlorperazine Summary
Prochlorperazine is a medicine used to treat severe nausea, vomiting, dizziness, anxiety, and schizophrenia. It belongs to a group of drugs called phenothiazines, which work by calming brain signals, like turning down the volume on an overactive speaker, and supports reducing sickness and mental distress. Common side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, and sometimes muscle stiffness or restlessness. It’s best taken with food to avoid stomach upset, and alcohol should be avoided, as it can make you extra sleepy. Always check with your doctor before mixing it with other sedatives or allergy medicines. Taking more than 40 mg of this medicine causes overdosing effects like seizures, irregular heartbeats, and coma. This medicine shows more side effects in children and older people.
FAQ’s
What are the uses of prochlorperazine tablets?
Prochlorperazine tablets are used to treat severe nausea, vomiting, dizziness, anxiety, and schizophrenia. They help calm brain signals by blocking dopamine, reducing symptoms like sickness and mental distress.
What are the side effects of prochlorperazine tablets?
Common side effects of prochlorperazine tablets include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, constipation, and blurred vision. Some people may also experience restlessness, muscle stiffness, or low blood pressure.
What is the prochlorperazine drug class?
Prochlorperazine belongs to the phenothiazine class of first-generation antipsychotics, which are also known as typical antipsychotics.
What is Prochlorperazine’s highest dose?
The highest recommended dose of prochlorperazine for adults is 40 mg per day. Taking more than this can increase the risk of serious side effects like extreme drowsiness, confusion, or movement problems.
Reference
- Drugs.com. Prochlorperazine tablets [Internet]. Drugs.com; c2025 [cited 2025 Nov 5]. Available from.
- Mayo Clinic. Prochlorperazine (Oral Route) description [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c2025 [cited 2025 Nov 5]. Available from.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. Prochlorperazine [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); c2025 [cited 2025 Nov 5]. Available from.
- PubChem. Prochlorperazine [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); c2025 [cited 2025 Nov 5]. Available from.
- Cleveland Clinic. Prochlorperazine tablets [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic; c2025 [cited 2025 Nov 5]. Available from.
Authors
Siva Krishna Adithya Bhumireddy completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy from GIET School of Pharmacy, affiliated with Andhra University, and from his 3rd year of graduation, he was working as a freelance medical and publication writer. Having expertise in systematic reviews and clinical research. With his keen interest and skills in research and documentation practices, he also reviewed more than 150 manuscripts from international journals like Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Sage Journals, and all the manuscripts were indexed and appeared in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, and he received honorary recognition letters and certificates from all of them. Siva Krishna Adithya also published a few systematic, narrative reviews and a few chapters of international expertise.