Two medicines, side by side
Chlorpromazine vs prochlorperazine
Chlorpromazine and prochlorperazine are both labeled for schizophrenia and nausea and vomiting. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorpromazine since 1957 and of prochlorperazine since 1956. Pharmacies paid $0.552 per chlorpromazine 100 mg tablet and $0.162 per prochlorperazine 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the chlorpromazine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the prochlorperazine FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 27, 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 prochlorperazine record
Prochlorperazine (Compro) · label of January 27, 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 control of severe nausea and vomiting. For the treatment of schizophrenia. Prochlorperazine is effective for the short-term treatment of generalized non-psychotic anxiety. However, prochlorperazine is not the first drug to be used in therapy for most patients with non-psychotic anxiety, because certain risks associated with its use are not shared by common alternative treatments (e.g., benzodiazepines). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 23, 1956
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.162 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Chlorpromazine label of May 12, 2026, Prochlorperazine label of January 27, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorpromazine and prochlorperazine differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class phenothiazines.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: chlorpromazine since 1972; prochlorperazine since 1979 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorpromazine | Prochlorperazine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Schizophrenia, Nausea and vomiting | Nausea and vomiting, Schizophrenia, Anxiety |
| Pharmacologic class | Phenothiazine | Phenothiazine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 18, 1957 | October 23, 1956 |
| First generic approved | March 16, 1972 | July 5, 1979 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.552 per tablet (Chlorpromazine 100 mg tablet) | $0.162 per tablet (Prochlorperazine 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -27% | -20% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 25 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,098 | 37,667 |
| 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