Two medicines, side by side
Prochlorperazine vs metoclopramide
Prochlorperazine and metoclopramide are both labeled for nausea and vomiting. Drugs@FDA records approvals of prochlorperazine since 1956 and of metoclopramide since 1979. Pharmacies paid $0.162 per prochlorperazine 10 mg tablet and $0.0439 per metoclopramide 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine and metoclopramide a dopamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Check it at the source: the prochlorperazine FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 27, 2026); the metoclopramide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 18, 2026).
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 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 (Prochlorperazine label of January 27, 2026, Metoclopramide label of May 18, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do prochlorperazine and metoclopramide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine and metoclopramide a dopamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: prochlorperazine since 1979; metoclopramide since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Prochlorperazine | Metoclopramide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Nausea and vomiting, Schizophrenia, Anxiety | 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) | October 23, 1956 | February 7, 1979 |
| First generic approved | July 5, 1979 | July 29, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 45 labelers | 39 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.162 per tablet (Prochlorperazine 10 mg tablet) | $0.0439 per tablet (Metoclopramide 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -20% | -11% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 37,667 | 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 prochlorperazine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions