| |
Back to Psychiatry Drug Index
Name: Prochlorperazine
Pregnancy Category C
Drug classes
- Phenothiazine (piperazine)
- Dopaminergic blocking drug
- Antipsychotic drug
- Antiemetic drug
- Antianxiety drug
Therapeutic actions
Mechanism of action not fully understood: antipsychotic drugs block
postsynaptic dopamine receptors in the brain, but this may not be
necessary and sufficient for antipsychotic activity; depresses the
reticular activating system, including the parts of the brain involved
with wakefulness and emesis; anticholinergic, antihistaminic
(H1), and alpha-adrenergic blocking activity also may contribute
to some of its therapeutic (and adverse) actions.
Indications
- Management of manifestations of psychotic disorders
- Control of severe nausea and vomiting
- Short-term treatment of nonpsychotic anxiety (not drug of choice)
Contraindications/cautions
Contraindicated in the presence of coma or severe CNS depression, bone
marrow depression, blood dyscrasia, circulatory collapse, subcortical
brain damage, Parkinson's disease, liver damage, cerebral
arteriosclerosis, coronary disease, severe hypotension or
hypertension.
Use caution in the presence of respiratory disorders, glaucoma,
prostatic
hypertrophy, epilepsy, breast cancer (elevations in prolactin may
stimulate a prolactin-dependent tumor), thyrotoxicosis, peptic ulcer,
decreased renal function, myelography within previous 24 h or
scheduled
within 48 h, exposure to heat or phosphorous insecticides, pregnancy,
lactation, children younger 12 y, especially those with chickenpox,
CNS
infections (children are especially susceptible to dystonias that may
confound the diagnosis of Reye's syndrome).
|
|
|
|
Are you a doctor or a nurse?
Do you want to join the Doctors Lounge online medical community?
Participate in editorial activities (publish, peer review, edit) and
give a helping hand to the largest online community of patients.
Click on the link below to see the requirements:
Doctors Lounge Membership
Application |
|
Adverse effects
- CNS: Drowsiness, insomnia, vertigo, headache, weakness, tremor,
ataxia,
slurring, cerebral edema, seizures, exacerbation of psychotic
symptoms,
extrapyramidal syndromes-pseudoparkinsonism; dystonias; akathisia,
tardive dyskinesias, potentially irreversible; neuroleptic malignant
syndrome
- CV: Hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia,
bradycardia, cardiac arrest, CHF, cardiomegaly, refractory arrhythmias
(some fatal), pulmonary edema
- Respiratory: Bronchospasm, laryngospasm, dyspnea; suppression of cough
reflex and potential for aspiration
- Hematologic: Eosinophilia, leukopenia, leukocytosis, anemia; aplastic
anemia; hemolytic anemia; thrombocytopenic or nonthrombocytopenic
purpura; pancytopenia
- Hypersensitivity: Jaundice, urticaria, angioneurotic edema, laryngeal
edema, photosensitivity, eczema, asthma, anaphylactoid reactions,
exfoliative dermatitis
- EENT: Glaucoma, photophobia, blurred vision, miosis, mydriasis,
deposits
in the cornea and lens (opacities), pigmentary retinopathy
- Endocrine: Lactation, breast engorgement in females, galactorrhea;
SIADH; amenorrhea, menstrual irregularities; gynecomastia in males;
changes in libido; hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia; glycosuria;
hyponatremia; pituitary tumor with hyperprolactinemia; inhibition of
ovulation, infertility, pseudopregnancy; reduced urinary levels of
gonadotropins, estrogens, progestins
- Autonomic: Dry mouth, salivation, nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting,
anorexia, fever, pallor, flushed facies, sweating, constipation,
paralytic ileus, urinary retention, incontinence, polyuria, enuresis,
priapism, ejaculation inhibition, male impotence
- Other: Urine discolored pink to red-brown
|
|
send
to a friend
printer
friendly version
