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- $Unique_ID{BRK03306}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{prochlorperazine}
- $Subject{Compazine Smith Kline French Spansules maleate Phenothiazine
- tranquilizer antiemetic prochlorperazine mental illness emotional symptoms
- psychosis manic manic-depressive behavioral problems children mental illness
- nerve transmission brain nausea vomiting vomiting center brain nausea}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- Compazine Spansules 10 mg*0330601.scf
- Compazine Spansules 15 mg*0330602.scf}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- prochlorperazine
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- Compazine (Smith Kline & French)
- Compazine Spansules (Smith Kline & French)
- prochlorperazine maleate (various manufacturers)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Phenothiazine tranquilizer and antiemetic
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- prochlorperazine
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Tablets (5 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg)
- Sustained-release capsules (10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg)
- Suppositories (2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 25 mg)
- Oral syrup (5 mg per 5-ml spoonful)
-
- STORAGE
-
- The tablet and capsule forms of this medication should be stored at room
- temperature in tightly closed, light-resistant containers. The oral syrup and
- suppository forms may be stored in the refrigerator in tightly closed,
- light-resistant containers. If the oral syrup turns slightly yellow, the
- medicine is still effective and can be used. However, if it changes color
- markedly, or has particles floating in it, it should not be used; rather, it
- should be discarded down the sink. Prochlorperazine should never be frozen.
-
- USES
-
- Prochlorperazine is prescribed to treat the symptoms of certain types of
- mental illness, such as the emotional symptoms of psychosis, the manic phase
- of manic-depressive illness, and severe behavioral problems in children. This
- medication is thought to relieve the symptoms of mental illness by blocking
- certain chemicals involved with nerve transmission in the brain.
- Prochlorperazine is also frequently used to treat nausea and vomiting (this
- medication works at the vomiting center in the brain to relieve nausea and
- vomiting).
-
- TREATMENT
-
- To avoid stomach irritation, you can take the tablet or capsule form of
- this medication with a meal or with a glass of water or milk (unless your
- doctor directs you to do otherwise).
- Antacids and antidiarrheal medicines may decrease the absorption of this
- medication from the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, at least one hour
- should separate doses of one of these medicines and prochlorperazine.
- The sustained-release capsules should be swallowed whole; do not crush,
- break, or open them. Breaking the capsules releases the medication all at
- once, destroying their sustained-release activity.
- Measure the oral syrup carefully with a specially designed 5-ml measuring
- spoon. An ordinary kitchen teaspoon is not accurate enough.
- To use the suppository form, remove the foil wrapper (if the suppository
- is too soft to insert, refrigerate it for half an hour or run cold water over
- it before removing the wrapper), and moisten the suppository with water. Lie
- on your left side with your right knee bent. Push the suppository into the
- rectum, pointed end first. Lie still for a few minutes. Try to avoid having
- a bowel movement for at least an hour (to give the medication time to be
- absorbed).
- If you miss a dose of this medication, take the missed dose as soon as
- possible, unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, do not
- take the missed dose at all; just return to your regular schedule. Do not
- double the dose (unless your doctor directs you to do so).
- The full effects of this medication for the control of emotional or
- mental symptoms may not become apparent for two weeks after you start to take
- it.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Blurred vision, constipation, decreased sweating, diarrhea, dizziness,
- drooling, drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, jitteriness, menstrual
- irregularities, nasal congestion, restlessness, vomiting, or weight gain. As
- your body adjusts to the medication, these side effects should disappear.
- Prochlorperazine can also cause discoloration of the urine to red, pink,
- or red-brown. This is a harmless effect.
- This medication can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. It is,
- therefore, important to avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and sunlamps.
- Wear protective clothing and sunglasses, and use an effective sunscreen.
- If you are constipated, increase the amount of fiber in your diet (fresh
- fruits and vegetables, salads, bran, and whole-grain breads), exercise, and
- drink more water (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
- Chew sugarless gum or suck on ice chips or a piece of hard candy to
- reduce mouth dryness.
- To avoid dizziness or light-headedness when you stand, contract and relax
- the muscles of your legs for a few moments before rising. Do this by pushing
- one foot against the floor while raising the other foot slightly, alternating
- feet so that you are "pumping" your legs in a pedaling motion.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- unusual bleeding or bruising; breast enlargement (in both sexes); chest pain;
- convulsions; darkened skin; difficulty in swallowing or breathing; fainting;
- fever; impotence; involuntary movements of the face, mouth, jaw, or tongue;
- palpitations; rash; sleep disorders; sore throat; tremors; uncoordinated
- movements; visual disturbances; or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Prochlorperazine interacts with several other types of medications:
- 1. It can cause drowsiness when combined with alcohol or central nervous
- system depressants (drugs that slow the activity of the brain and spinal
- cord), such as barbiturates, benzodiazepine tranquilizers, muscle relaxants,
- narcotics, and pain medications, or with tricyclic antidepressants.
- 2. Prochlorperazine can decrease the effectiveness of amphetamines,
- guanethidine, anticonvulsants, and levodopa.
- 3. The side effects of epinephrine, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors,
- propranolol, phenytoin, and tricyclic antidepressants may be increased by this
- medication. At least 14 days should separate the use of this drug and the use
- of an MAO inhibitor.
- 4. Lithium may increase the side effects and decrease the effectiveness
- of this medication.
- 5. Thiazide diuretics can enhance the blood-pressure-lowering side
- effects of prochlorperazine.
- Before starting to take prochlorperazine, TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any
- medications you are currently taking.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual reactions you have had to any drugs,
- especially to prochlorperazine or other phenothiazine tranquilizers (such as
- chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, mesoridazine, perphenazine, promazine,
- thioridazine, trifluoperazine, and triflupromazine) or to loxapine.
- * Tell your doctor if you have a history of alcoholism or if you now have
- or have ever had any blood disease, bone marrow disease, brain disease, breast
- cancer, blockage in the urinary or digestive tracts, drug-induced depression,
- epilepsy, high or low blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, heart or
- circulatory disease, liver disease, lung disease, Parkinson's disease, peptic
- ulcers, or an enlarged prostate gland.
- * Tell your doctor about any recent exposure to a pesticide or an
- insecticide. Prochlorperazine may increase the side effects from the
- exposure.
- * To prevent oversedation, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while
- taking this medication.
- * If this medication makes you dizzy or drowsy, do not take part in any
- activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating
- potentially dangerous machinery. Be careful on stairs, and avoid getting up
- suddenly from a lying or sitting position.
- * Prior to having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be
- sure to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
- * Some of the side effects caused by this drug can be prevented by taking
- an antiparkinsonism drug. Discuss this with your doctor.
- * This medication can decrease sweating and heat release from the body.
- You should therefore try not to get overheated (avoid exercising strenuously
- in hot weather, and avoid taking hot baths, showers, and saunas).
- * Do not stop taking prochlorperazine suddenly if you have been taking it
- for a prolonged period. If the drug is stopped abruptly, you may experience
- nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, headache, increased heart rate, insomnia,
- tremors, or a worsening of your condition. Your doctor may therefore want to
- reduce the dosage gradually.
- * If you are planning to have a myelogram, or any other procedure in
- which dye will be injected into your spinal cord, tell your doctor that you
- are taking this medication.
- * Avoid spilling the oral syrup form of this medication on your skin or
- clothing; it may cause redness and irritation.
- * While taking this medication, do not take any over-the-counter
- medications for weight control or for cough, cold, allergy, asthma, or sinus
- problems unless you first check with your doctor. The combination of these
- medications with prochlorperazine may cause high blood pressure.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although there are
- reports of safe use of this drug during pregnancy, there are also reports of
- liver disease and tremors in newborn infants whose mothers received this type
- of medication close to term. Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding
- an infant.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-