Prochlorperazine oral tablet side effects: A detailed guide

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved prochlorperazine oral tablet to treat:

• severe nausea and vomiting
• schizophrenia
• general anxiety disorder for no longer than 12 weeks
• behavioral complications in people with an intellectual disability

This article describes possible side effects of prochlorperazine oral tablet. Talk with your doctor to learn more about prochlorperazine.

Prochlorperazine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Procomp. Prochlorperazine also comes as an injection and a suppository, but this article does not describe these forms. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.

Boxed warning: Increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis

Prochlorperazine oral tablet has a boxed warning for the increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

For details, see the “Side effects of prochlorperazine in detail” section below.

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More common side effects of prochlorperazine

Prochlorperazine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of prochlorperazine oral tablet include:

• drowsiness
• dizziness
• blurry vision
• amenorrhea (lack of menstrual bleeding)

Mild side effects of prochlorperazine

Prochlorperazine may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and easily manageable. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of prochlorperazine oral tablet that have been reported include:

• drowsiness
• dizziness
• blurry vision
• amenorrhea
• restlessness
• dry mouth
• constipation
• increase in appetite
• urinary retention (inability to empty your bladder)
• skin rash
• mild allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of prochlorperazine in detail” section below.

Prochlorperazine oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of prochlorperazine

Prochlorperazine may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from prochlorperazine oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with prochlorperazine.

Serious side effects of prochlorperazine oral tablet that people have reported include:

• irregular heart rhythm, including long QT syndrome
• high prolactin levels
• liver-related side effects, including cholestatic jaundice
• low blood pressure, including when sitting or standing up which may lead to falls or other injuries
• neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a rare but serious reaction to antipsychotic drugs)
• problems with regulating body temperature
• increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis*
• blood cell problems†
• unusual, involuntary body movements†
• severe allergic reaction†

* Prochlorperazine oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of prochlorperazine in detail” section below.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of prochlorperazine in detail” section below.

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Side effects of prochlorperazine in children

For children, doctors prescribe prochlorperazine oral tablet to treat the following conditions:

• severe nausea and vomiting in children ages 2 years and older
• schizophrenia in children ages 2 years and older

According to reports, unusual involuntary body movements are more common in children than in adults. This risk is highest in children who are dehydrated or acutely ill with short-term conditions, such as chickenpox or meningitis. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of prochlorperazine in detail” section below.

If you’d like to know more about side effects in children taking prochlorperazine oral tablet, talk with your child’s doctor or pharmacist.

Common questions about side effects of prochlorperazine

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of prochlorperazine oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How long do side effects of prochlorperazine usually last?

It depends. Mild side effects are sometimes short term and go away on their own in a few hours or days.

However, prochlorperazine can also cause long-term side effects. For more details, see “Does prochlorperazine cause long-term side effects?” just below.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you develop side effects that bother you or won’t go away. They can advise the best treatment for your symptoms.

Does prochlorperazine cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases prochlorperazine oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time or may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking it.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with prochlorperazine oral tablet include high prolactin levels and unusual involuntary body movements. (To learn more about unusual involuntary body movements, see the “Side effects of prochlorperazine in detail” section below.)

Another example is irregular heart rhythm, including long QT syndrome. This side effect is often reversible once you have stopped treatment, but it can happen at any time.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of prochlorperazine may last.

Side effects of prochlorperazine in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of prochlorperazine oral tablet.

Increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis

Prochlorperazine oral tablet has a boxed warning for the increased risk of death in older adults (ages 65 years and older) with dementia-related psychosis. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

Prochlorperazine is an antipsychotic drug. Large studies of antipsychotic drugs show that these medications increase the risk of death when used to treat dementia-related psychosis in older adults.

Dementia is a condition which causes a loss of cognitive function. Cognitive function refers to your memory, behaviors, thinking, language, and judgment. Dementia may affect any of these functions. Symptoms can include confusion, memory problems, and difficulty with changes to your schedule or environment.

With psychosis, you experience a disconnect from reality. Symptoms can include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t actually there), difficulty thinking clearly, and delusions (beliefs that aren’t based in reality).

It’s important to note that prochlorperazine is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis.

Ways to manage

Because of this risk, doctors typically avoid prescribing prochlorperazine or any antipsychotic medication to treat dementia-related psychosis in older adults. Instead, they’ll prescribe safer treatments for this use.

Unusual involuntary body movements

Unusual and involuntary body movements have been reported in people taking prochlorperazine oral tablet. These side effects may be serious and long-term in some cases.

Unusual and involuntary body movements reported with prochlorperazine include:

• Dystonia: With dystonia you have uncontrolled or slow body movements. Symptoms can include involuntary twisting motions in one or more body parts, typically the head, neck, limbs, and torso. Dystonia often goes away within 24–48 hours after stopping treatment with prochlorperazine.
• Pseudo-Parkinsonism: With pseudo-Parkinsonism, you have symptoms that look like those with parkinsonism. But the cause is from medication and not actual Parkinsonism. Symptoms include slowed movements and muscle stiffness.
• Tardive dyskinesia: Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder. It’s a known side effect of antipsychotic medications, including prochlorperazine. Symptoms can include lip puckering or smacking, swaying your torso side to side, and blinking often.

Certain factors can increase the risk of unusual involuntary body movements with prochlorperazine oral tablet. These include taking prochlorperazine long-term and taking a higher dosage of the drug.

Ways to manage

If you experience symptoms of unusual involuntary body movements, immediately tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend lowering your prochlorperazine dosage or stopping treatment. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe a medication, such as Austedo, to treat your side effects.

Blood cell problems

Blood cell problems have been reported in people taking prochlorperazine oral tablet. These side effects may be serious in some cases.

Blood cell problems reported with prochlorperazine oral tablet include:

• low white blood cell count
• low neutrophil count
• agranulocytosis (low level of certain white blood cells, usually neutrophils)

These conditions usually don’t cause symptoms. But they can raise your risk of infection and the severity of it.

Certain factors can increase the risk of blood cell problems with prochlorperazine oral tablet. These include certain types of infection, such as HIV and hepatitis, and a history of blood cancer. It also includes taking other types of medications such as clozapine (Clozaril) or methimazole (Tapazole).

Ways to manage

During treatment with prochlorperazine, your doctor may order blood tests to monitor your blood cell counts. Depending on the test results, they may change your treatment plan. For example, they may lower your prochlorperazine dosage or temporarily stop treatment until your blood cell counts return to usual.

If you experience symptoms of an infection, such as a sore throat, immediately tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend making an appointment to check your symptoms and determine the best treatment for your infection.

Allergic reaction

For some people, prochlorperazine oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to prochlorperazine oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for prochlorperazine

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking prochlorperazine oral tablet.

Boxed warning: Increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis

Prochlorperazine has a boxed warning for the increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

For details, see the “Side effects of prochlorperazine in detail” section above.

Other warnings

It may not be safe for you to take prochlorperazine oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether prochlorperazine oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking prochlorperazine oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• epilepsy or seizures
• blood cell problems, such as existing low white blood cell count
• liver conditions, such as cirrhosis
• low blood pressure
• current or past breast cancer
• glaucoma
• consistent, long-term exposure to high temperatures based on your job or where you live
• arrhythmia, especially long QT syndrome
• past allergic reaction to prochlorperazine

Prochlorperazine and pregnancy

Taking prochlorperazine oral tablet during pregnancy usually isn’t recommended. But there are rare instances where the benefits may outweigh the risks.

If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with prochlorperazine.

Prochlorperazine and breastfeeding

It is unknown whether you should use prochlorperazine oral tablet while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Prochlorperazine and alcohol

Prochlorperazine oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol.

Taking prochlorperazine and drinking alcohol can intensify or lengthen the effects of alcohol. This can increase the risk of drowsiness, dizziness, and problems with thinking clearly and making decisions.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with prochlorperazine oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of prochlorperazine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How do side effects of prochlorperazine compare with other antipsychotic medications, such as zipradisone (Geodon)?
• If I experienced unusual movements as a side effect from another antipsychotic medication in the past, do I have a higher risk of this side effect if I take prochlorperazine?
• Based on my health history, will I be monitored more closely for side effects if I’m prescribed prochlorperazine?
• Is the risk of blood cell problems higher when I first start taking prochlorperazine?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.