Two medicines, side by side
Prochlorperazine vs meclizine
Prochlorperazine and meclizine are both labeled for nausea and vomiting. Drugs@FDA records approvals of prochlorperazine since 1956 and of meclizine since 1957. Pharmacies paid $0.162 per prochlorperazine 10 mg tablet and $0.0442 per meclizine 12.5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine and meclizine an antiemetic.
Check it at the source: the prochlorperazine FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 27, 2026); the meclizine FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 2, 2025).
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
Highlights of the meclizine record
Meclizine (Antivert) · label of June 2, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsMeclizine hydrochloride is indicated for the treatment of vertigo associated with diseases affecting the vestibular system in adults. Meclizine hydrochloride is indicated for the treatment of vertigo associated with diseases affecting the vestibular system in adults.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 14, 1957
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0442 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 12
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Prochlorperazine label of January 27, 2026, Meclizine label of June 2, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do prochlorperazine and meclizine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine and meclizine an antiemetic.
Only the prochlorperazine label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: prochlorperazine since 1979; meclizine since 1975 (Drugs@FDA).
| Prochlorperazine | Meclizine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Nausea and vomiting, Schizophrenia, Anxiety | Nausea and vomiting |
| Pharmacologic class | Phenothiazine | Antiemetic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | The precise mechanism by which meclizine exerts its therapeutic effect is unknown but is presumed to involve antagonism of the histamine H1 receptor. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Elimination Meclizine has a plasma elimination half-life of about 5-6 hours in humans. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 23, 1956 | February 14, 1957 |
| First generic approved | July 5, 1979 | March 19, 1975 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 45 labelers | 24 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.162 per tablet (Prochlorperazine 10 mg tablet) | $0.0442 per tablet (Meclizine 12.5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -20% | -11% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 12 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 37,667 | 19,471 |
| 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 do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Meclizine label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS Coadministration of meclizine hydrochloride with other CNS depressants, including alcohol, may result in increased CNS depression ( 7.1 ).
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to prochlorperazine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions