Prochlorperazine

What is Prochlorperazine?

Prochlorperazine is an anti-sickness medication that can treat nausea, labyrinthitis, Ménière’s disease, and BPPV, commonly referred to as vertigo.

Labyrinthitis is the inflammation of part of the inner ear called the labyrinth. The eighth cranial nerve (vestibulocochlear nerve) may also be inflamed. It typically causes symptoms such as nausea, vertigo, tinnitus, and/or hearing impairment.^[1] It’s typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection, so you’d need treatment for that in addition to Prochlorperazine for nausea and vertigo.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV, ^[2] is commonly known as vertigo, and it’s a false perception of movement when there isn’t any. It may cause you to feel like you’re going to fall or like the room is spinning. There are other causes for vertigo, but BPPV is the most common. You might need to take antihistamine alongside anti-sickness medication, so speak to our clinicians about it so they can recommend the best course of treatment.

Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes symptoms including nausea and vertigo.^[3] It may lead to you losing your balance completely and falling over.

How does Prochlorperazine work?

Prochlorperazine works by blocking the action of dopamine from sending nausea signals to your brain.^[4] Dopamine is a hormone, usually referred to as a chemical messenger, that is made by your own body, which uses it to send messages between nerve cells.

Prochlorperazine intercepts these messages, and in this case, the one that tells your brain it’s time to feel nauseous, effectively keeping you from feeling unpleasant sickness sensations.

What doses of Prochlorperazine are there?

Prochlorperazine comes as 5mg oral tablets (swallowed with water) or 3mg buccal tablets (which dissolve in the mouth between the cheek and gums). We only supply the 5mg tablets at the moment. The typical dosage is one 5mg tablet three times a day.

Your dose can be adjusted depending on how you respond to the treatment. If you’re not sure what dose you should be starting with, our clinicians will explain everything you need to know and give you the right treatment advice.

How to take Prochlorperazine

You should swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. If you’re taking multiple tablets daily, take them at separate times, for example, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Taking it with food can help avoid an upset stomach. This schedule can also help you remember your tablets, as you need to take them with every meal.

If you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, tell your clinician so they can advise you on the best course of treatment.

How long does it take Prochlorperazine to work?

The time it takes for Prochlorperazine to work depends on the condition you’re using it to treat. For most conditions, Prochlorperazine will start to work within 30 to 60 minutes of taking it, but for Ménière’s disease, it might take a few days.

If you’ve been taking Prochlorperazine for a while and have felt no difference in your symptoms, contact our clinician. They can adjust your dose for you if appropriate, or they can recommend alternative treatments for you to try.

What should I do if I make a mistake when using Prochlorperazine?

If you accidentally take too much Prochlorperazine, you should seek immediate medical assistance. A healthcare professional will need to closely monitor your condition and tackle any adverse effects that might occur. You should take the Prochlorperazine packaging with you to the hospital so you can be treated as quickly as possible. Don’t drive to the hospital yourself; either ask a family member or friend to take you or call for an ambulance to pick you up.