Prochlorperazine Maleate

Introduction

Written by Melanie Sangobowale PharmD
Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD
Updated on September 19, 2023

Prochlorperazine (proe klor PER a zeen) is a generic medication prescribed to treat schizophrenia and anxiety. It’s also prescribed to manage severe nausea and vomiting. Prochlorperazine belongs to a group of drugs called phenothiazines.

These approved uses differ based on the form of prochlorperazine your doctor prescribes.

This article doesn’t provide coupons for all forms of prochlorperazine. To find coupons for prochlorperazine rectal suppository, see this article. For more information about coupons for prochlorperazine injection, see this article.

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

Prochlorperazine has a boxed warning about the increased risk of death in older adults (ages 65 years and over) with dementia-related psychosis. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Interactions and warnings for prochlorperazine” section.

Side effects of prochlorperazine

Prochlorperazine may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of prochlorperazine and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about prochlorperazine’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for prochlorperazine listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of prochlorperazine are listed below. These side effects may differ based on the form of prochlorperazine you take.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about prochlorperazine’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for prochlorperazine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Mild side effects of prochlorperazine oral tablet and prochlorperazine rectal suppository* include:

• drowsiness
• dizziness
• amenorrhea (missing one or more menstrual periods)
• blurry vision
• skin reactions
• low blood pressure
• mild allergic reaction†

* One form of prochlorperazine comes as a suppository that you’ll insert into your rectum.
† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for prochlorperazine” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of prochlorperazine are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about prochlorperazine’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for prochlorperazine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, prochlorperazine’s serious side effects include:

• certain liver conditions, such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes)
• leukopenia (low white blood cell count)
• tardive dyskinesia (a condition that includes uncontrolled muscle movements in your face, arms, or legs)
• neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a life threatening reaction to certain medications)
• boxed warning: increased risk of death of older adults with dementia-related psychosis*
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for prochlorperazine” section.

Common questions about prochlorperazine

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about prochlorperazine.

What brand names are available for prochlorperazine?

Prochlorperazine oral tablet is available as the brand-name drug Procomp. Prochlorperazine rectal suppository* is available as the brand-name drug Compro. Prochlorperazine injection† is only available as a generic medication. 

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs usually cost less compared with brand-name drugs.

If you have questions about the brand-name versions of prochlorperazine oral tablet or rectal suppository, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* One form of prochlorperazine comes as a suppository that you’ll insert into your rectum.
† Prochlorperazine injection is given into the muscle or as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (An IV infusion is an injection given into your vein over time.)

Can prochlorperazine be used for vertigo?

Possibly. Prochlorperazine is not specifically approved to treat vertigo. But it can be prescribed to treat nausea and vomiting, which are symptoms that may occur with vertigo. With vertigo, you feel as if your surroundings are moving when they’re not.

Prochlorperazine is also approved for other uses. To learn more, see the “Uses of prochlorperazine” section.

If you’d like to learn more about vertigo and prochlorperazine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is prochlorperazine similar to Zofran or Xanax?

Similar to prochlorperazine, ondansetron (Zofran) is prescribed to treat nausea and vomiting, and alprazolam (Xanax) is prescribed for anxiety. But they belong to different groups of drugs than prochlorperazine.

Prochlorperazine belongs to a group of drugs named phenothiazines. Zofran is a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and Xanax is a benzodiazepine. These drugs work by affecting the levels of different chemicals in your brain.

If you have questions about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does prochlorperazine work? And how long does it take to start working?

Prochlorperazine belongs to a group of drugs called phenothiazines. They work by blocking the chemical dopamine in the brain. This helps manage nausea and vomiting. By decreasing dopamine, you also feel less anxiety. It also helps reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia.  

If you take prochlorperazine oral tablet, it usually takes 30–40 minutes for your symptoms to ease. With prochlorperazine injection,* it usually takes 10–20 minutes to notice a reduction in symptoms. The rectal suppository† may take around 60 minutes to take effect.  

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* Prochlorperazine injection is given into the muscle or as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (An IV infusion is an injection given into your vein over time.)
† One form of prochlorperazine comes as a suppository that you’ll insert into your rectum.

Uses of prochlorperazine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as prochlorperazine for certain conditions. Approved uses for prochlorperazine are described below. These uses differ based on the form of prochlorperazine prescribed.

Use for nausea and vomiting

Doctors may prescribe prochlorperazine oral tablet, injection,* and rectal suppository† to manage severe nausea and vomiting. It’s prescribed for this purpose in adults and certain children. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment.

Nausea and vomiting are your body’s way of protecting itself and getting rid of something that could be harmful to you. Nausea is the sensation of feeling sick to your stomach, but not throwing up. Vomiting is when you actually throw up. 

Doctors may not prescribe prochlorperazine in certain situations, such as to treat behavior complications in people with an intellectual disability.

* Prochlorperazine injection is given into the muscle or as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (An IV infusion is an injection given into your vein over time.)
† One form of prochlorperazine comes as a suppository that you’ll insert into your rectum.

Use for schizophrenia

Doctors may prescribe prochlorperazine oral tablet and injection* for treating schizophrenia. It’s prescribed for this purpose in adults and children ages 2–12 years old. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

Schizophrenia is a chronic (long-term) mental health condition with an unknown cause. It affects adults and children. With schizophrenia, you have changes in your thoughts, moods, and behaviors. Symptoms may include hallucinations and delusions, low energy, and a loss of interest in social interactions. It may also include difficulty with concentrating and processing information.

Doctors may not prescribe prochlorperazine in certain situations, such as to treat behavior complications in people with an intellectual disability.

* Prochlorperazine injection is given into the muscle or as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (An IV infusion is an injection given into your vein over time.)

Use for anxiety

Doctors may prescribe prochlorperazine oral tablet for treating anxiety. It’s prescribed for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment.

Anxiety is a condition that may cause you to feel worried or anxious. With anxiety, you may have difficulty managing your thoughts, concentrating, or sleeping. You may also have irritability.

Doctors may not prescribe prochlorperazine in certain situations, such as to treat behavior complications in people with an intellectual disability.

Interactions and warnings for prochlorperazine

Below, you’ll find information about prochlorperazine’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of prochlorperazine

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take prochlorperazine, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for prochlorperazine” section below.

Warnings for prochlorperazine

Some people should not take prochlorperazine, and others should take it cautiously.

Boxed warning

Prochlorperazine has a boxed warning about the increased risk of death in older adults (ages 65 years and over) with dementia-related psychosis. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

With dementia, you have difficulty with thinking, memory, and communication. With dementia-related psychosis, you develop psychosis (loss of contact with reality) as a complication of dementia. If you’re an older adult with dementia and take antipsychotic drugs such as prochlorperazine, there’s an increased risk of death. This side effect was commonly reported in studies* of prochlorperazine and similar antipsychotic drugs.

Symptoms of dementia-related psychosis may include hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. You should not take prochlorperazine to treat this condition.

If you have concerns about the increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend another drug that can safely treat your condition.  

To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For details about the studies of prochlorperazine, see the “Resources” section.

Other warnings

Prochlorperazine could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether prochlorperazine is a safe option for you. These warnings may differ based on the form of prochlorperazine you’re prescribed.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for prochlorperazine, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Prochlorperazine can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to prochlorperazine or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe prochlorperazine. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to prochlorperazine, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of prochlorperazine

If you take prochlorperazine by mouth, you should not take more prochlorperazine than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much prochlorperazine, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and prochlorperazine

Information about prochlorperazine and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Prochlorperazine and pregnancy

There are risks to taking prochlorperazine during pregnancy. But there are also risks associated with having unmanaged severe vomiting and nausea while pregnant. (Keep in mind that prochlorperazine is prescribed for managing severe nausea and vomiting, among other uses).

If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about options for managing severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether you should take prochlorperazine during pregnancy.

Prochlorperazine and breastfeeding

There are risks to taking prochlorperazine while breastfeeding. But there are also risks associated with having unmanaged severe nausea and vomiting during this time. (Keep in mind that prochlorperazine is prescribed to manage severe nausea and vomiting.)

If you’re planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about treatment options for nausea and vomiting. Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether you should take prochlorperazine during this time. Your doctor may recommend other healthy ways to feed your child.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about prochlorperazine or would like more details about it.

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

• Can I take prochlorperazine and ondansetron at the same time to treat my severe nausea and vomiting?
• How long will I have to take prochlorperazine for my schizophrenia?
• What other medications can I take for nausea?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Prochlorperazine edisylate. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/f793cdb3-9fd8-79e1-e053-6394a90ae08b/spl-doc
• Prochlorperazine maleate. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/02069e43-5245-20dc-e063-6294a90a9dcd/spl-doc
• Prochlorperazine suppositories, USP. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/85e774cd-4e55-4c2b-872d-0d7602862ede/spl-doc

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.