Two medicines, side by side
Chlorpromazine vs metoclopramide
Chlorpromazine and metoclopramide are both labeled for nausea and vomiting. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorpromazine since 1957 and of metoclopramide since 1979. Pharmacies paid $0.552 per chlorpromazine 100 mg tablet and $0.0439 per metoclopramide 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, chlorpromazine is a phenothiazine and metoclopramide a dopamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Check it at the source: the chlorpromazine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the metoclopramide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 18, 2026).
Highlights of the chlorpromazine record
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) · label of May 12, 2026
Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of seventeen placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks), largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, revealed a risk of death in drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times the risk of death in placebo-treated patients.
Used for
From the label: indicationsFor the management of manifestations of psychotic disorders. For the treatment of schizophrenia. To control nausea and vomiting. For relief of restlessness and apprehension before surgery. For acute intermittent porphyria. As an adjunct in the treatment of tetanus. To control the manifestations of the manic type of manic-depressive illness. For relief of intractable hiccups. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 18, 1957
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.552 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 25
Highlights of the metoclopramide record
Metoclopramide (Reglan) · label of May 18, 2026
TARDIVE DYSKINESIA
Metoclopramide, including metoclopramide tablets, can cause tardive dyskinesia (TD), a potentially irreversible serious movement disorder. In patients treated with metoclopramide, including metoclopramide tablets, the risk of developing TD increases with duration of treatment and total cumulative dosage [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )].
Metoclopramide tablets are contraindicated in patients with a history of TD.
Used for
From the label: indicationsMetoclopramide Tablets USP are indicated for the: • Treatment for 4 to 12 weeks of symptomatic, documented gastroesophageal reflux in adults who fail to respond to conventional therapy. • Relief of symptoms in adults with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 7, 1979
- Generic labelers
- 39 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0439 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Chlorpromazine label of May 12, 2026, Metoclopramide label of May 18, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorpromazine and metoclopramide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, chlorpromazine is a phenothiazine and metoclopramide a dopamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: chlorpromazine since 1972; metoclopramide since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorpromazine | Metoclopramide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Schizophrenia, Nausea and vomiting | Acid reflux and ulcers, Nausea and vomiting |
| Pharmacologic class | Phenothiazine | Dopamine-2 Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Metoclopramide stimulates motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract without stimulating gastric, biliary, or pancreatic secretions. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The mean elimination half-life in subjects with normal renal function was 5 to 6 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 18, 1957 | February 7, 1979 |
| First generic approved | March 16, 1972 | July 29, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 39 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.552 per tablet (Chlorpromazine 100 mg tablet) | $0.0439 per tablet (Metoclopramide 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -27% | -11% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 25 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,098 | 76,710 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to chlorpromazine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions