prochlorperazine
Brand names: Compazine
Prochlorperazine is a medicine that can help control severe nausea and vomiting. It can also treat schizophrenia and anxiety for a short time.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.19/unit
Generic Available
Yes (21 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine can help control severe nausea and vomiting.
Common side effects
Drowsiness, Dizziness, Missed menstrual periods
Key warnings
This medicine can cause serious side effects, including Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS).
How It Works
Prochlorperazine belongs to a class of drugs called phenothiazines. It works by affecting the balance of certain chemicals in your brain. This can help reduce nausea, vomiting, and the symptoms of schizophrenia and anxiety.
How to Take It
Take this medicine exactly as your doctor tells you. For nausea and vomiting, you may take one 5mg or 10mg tablet 3 or 4 times a day. Do not take more than 40mg per day unless your doctor tells you to. For anxiety, the usual dose is 5mg, 3 or 4 times daily, but do not take more than 20mg per day or take it for longer than 12 weeks.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 18,470 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 26,613 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
26,613
Death-Related Reports
3,717
Hospitalization Reports
11,376
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NAUSEA | 3,261 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 2,706 |
| 3 | DIARRHOEA | 2,321 |
| 4 | VOMITING | 1,842 |
| 5 | FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA | 1,832 |
| 6 | DEATH | 1,705 |
| 7 | OFF LABEL USE | 1,299 |
| 8 | ASTHENIA | 1,254 |
| 9 | PNEUMONIA | 1,149 |
| 10 | DYSPNOEA | 1,101 |
| 11 | PYREXIA | 1,021 |
| 12 | DECREASED APPETITE | 1,013 |
| 13 | PAIN | 1,010 |
| 14 | HEADACHE | 973 |
| 15 | DIZZINESS | 962 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine can cause serious side effects, including Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). NMS can cause high fever, muscle stiffness, confusion, and changes in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. Long-term use or high doses may cause tardive dyskinesia, a condition with uncontrollable muscle movements that may not go away.
Common Questions
Can children take this medicine?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
What should I do if I experience muscle stiffness or spasms?
How long does it take for this medicine to start working?
Can I drive while taking this medicine?
What if I have a sore throat or signs of infection?
Can I take this for other types of anxiety?
What should I do if I feel restless or agitated after taking this medicine?
Is it okay to take this medication long term?
What do the tablets look like?
What are the common side effects of prochlorperazine?
What drug class is prochlorperazine?
Is prochlorperazine safe during pregnancy?
Has prochlorperazine been recalled?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA
Related Medications in Phenothiazine Antiemetic
Other drugs grouped near prochlorperazine — same-class peers and common alternatives.
alosetron
Lotronex
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aprepitant
Emend
Aprepitant (Emend) is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting.
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bisacodyl
Dulcolax
Bisacodyl is a medicine that helps you have a bowel movement.
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bismuth subsalicylate
Pepto-Bismol
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is a medicine that can treat diarrhea and upset stomach.
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cimetidine
Tagamet
Cimetidine (Tagamet) reduces stomach acid.
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Medication Guides
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What the FDA Data Shows for prochlorperazine
The FDA label for prochlorperazine (sold under brand names such as Compazine) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Phenothiazine Antiemetic class. This medicine can help control severe nausea and vomiting. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Drowsiness, Dizziness, Missed menstrual periods.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 18,470 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.19.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 22, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages