An antisickness/anti-vertigo medicine
Prochlorperazine
An antisickness and anti-vertigo medicine used short term for nausea, vomiting and dizziness; it can cause drowsiness and movement side effects.
What is Prochlorperazine?
Prochlorperazine is a medicine used to treat and prevent nausea, vomiting and the dizziness or spinning sensation of vertigo, including in conditions affecting the inner ear. It works mainly by blocking the brain signals that trigger sickness and balance disturbance. It is generally used short term, and it can cause drowsiness and, less often, muscle stiffness or abnormal movements, especially in younger people.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Prochlorperazine — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Prochlorperazine is an antiemetic (antisickness) medicine of the phenothiazine type, used in the UK for nausea and vomiting and for the dizziness or vertigo seen in inner-ear conditions such as labyrinthitis and Ménière's disease. It comes as ordinary tablets, as buccal tablets (such as Buccastem) that dissolve between the upper gum and lip, and as an injection given by a healthcare professional. It is usually intended for short-term use to control symptoms while the underlying cause settles or is treated.
How it works
Nausea and vomiting are triggered partly by a chemical messenger called dopamine acting on the brain's vomiting and balance centres. Prochlorperazine blocks dopamine receptors in these areas, which dampens the signals that cause sickness and the spinning sensation of vertigo. By calming these pathways it reduces nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Blocking dopamine in other parts of the brain, however, can sometimes cause movement-related side effects such as stiffness and abnormal movements.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Originally developed by Rhône-Poulenc (later part of Sanofi)..
Prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine first developed in France in the 1950s and long used in the UK to treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
Practical use
How to take Prochlorperazine
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Use it for as short a time as needed to control nausea, vomiting or dizziness, as advised by your prescriber or pharmacist.
- If you have buccal tablets, place one between your upper lip and gum and let it dissolve there rather than swallowing it; this is helpful if you feel sick.
- Take care with driving or operating machinery until you know whether it makes you drowsy.
- Avoid alcohol, which adds to the drowsiness.
- Seek medical advice promptly if you develop muscle stiffness, restlessness, or spasms of the face, neck or eyes.
- Do not give it to children or young people unless a doctor has specifically advised it, as movement side effects are more likely in the young.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Prochlorperazine
Advantages
- It is effective at relieving nausea, vomiting and the dizziness of vertigo.
- The buccal tablet can be used even when you are vomiting, as it dissolves in the mouth.
- It is well established and comes in several forms, including an injection for severe sickness.
Disadvantages
- It commonly causes drowsiness, which can affect driving and concentration.
- It can cause movement-related side effects such as stiffness and abnormal movements, especially in younger people.
- It is meant for short-term use, so it is not a long-term answer if symptoms keep coming back.
Practical use
Good to know
It commonly causes drowsiness, so take care with driving or machinery until you know how it affects you, and avoid alcohol. It can cause movement-related effects — muscle stiffness, restlessness or abnormal movements and spasms of the face, neck or eyes (extrapyramidal effects and dystonia) — which are more likely in younger people and with higher use; if these happen, seek medical advice promptly. Buccal tablets are placed between the upper lip and gum and left to dissolve rather than swallowed, which is useful if you are being sick. It is generally used short term; if symptoms persist, the cause should be reviewed rather than simply continuing the medicine.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- Children and young people, unless a doctor has specifically advised it, because movement side effects are more likely.
- People who are very drowsy, unconscious or have certain blood disorders.
- Anyone who has had a serious allergic or severe reaction to prochlorperazine or similar phenothiazine medicines.
Monitoring
- Review of whether nausea, vomiting or dizziness has improved and whether the medicine is still needed.
- Watching for movement side effects such as stiffness, restlessness or spasms, particularly early on.
- Checking for excessive drowsiness and light-headedness on standing.
Side effects
- Drowsiness and dizziness.
- Movement-related effects such as muscle stiffness, restlessness, and spasms of the face, neck or eyes (especially in younger people).
- Dry mouth and blurred vision.
- A drop in blood pressure on standing, causing light-headedness.
Key interactions
- Other sedating medicines and alcohol add to drowsiness.
- Other medicines that affect dopamine or can cause movement effects may add to the risk.
- Medicines that affect heart rhythm or blood pressure may interact, so tell your prescriber about all your medicines.
Available as: Tablets, buccal tablets that dissolve between the upper lip and gum, and an injection given by a healthcare professional.
Answers
Prochlorperazine: frequently asked questions
What is prochlorperazine used for?
It is used to treat and prevent nausea and vomiting, and the dizziness or spinning sensation of vertigo, including in inner-ear conditions such as labyrinthitis and Ménière's disease. It is usually used for a short time to control symptoms.
How do I use a buccal tablet?
Place the buccal tablet between your upper lip and gum and let it dissolve there rather than swallowing it. This is useful when you feel sick or are vomiting, as the medicine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth.
What are the movement side effects I should watch for?
Prochlorperazine can occasionally cause muscle stiffness, restlessness, or spasms of the face, neck or eyes. These are more likely in younger people. If they happen, seek medical advice promptly, as they can usually be treated.
Can children take prochlorperazine?
It is generally avoided in children and young people because the movement side effects are more likely in the young. It should only be given to them if a doctor has specifically advised it.
Can I drive after taking it?
It commonly causes drowsiness, so do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you, and avoid alcohol, which makes the drowsiness worse.
The wider class
About Antiemetics
Prochlorperazine belongs to the antiemetics class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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