If you or your child have been prescribed prochlorperazine, follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take it.
Dosage
The dose of prochlorperazine depends on what you're taking it for, but you'll usually take it 2 to 3 times a day.
The dose for children aged 1 to 17 years old is based on their weight.
How to take it
Prochlorperazine tablets come as:
- standard tablets that you swallow whole with a drink of water
- tablets that dissolve between your upper lip and gum (buccal tablets)
You can take standard tablets with or without food.
Buccal tablets work best if they're taken after meals. This gives them more time to dissolve.
How long to take it for
It's important to take prochlorperazine for the shortest possible time and at the lowest dose that works for you.
You can take it long term if you need it, but only do this if your doctor advises it.
If you take it for a long time and stop suddenly, it can cause withdrawal symptoms such as feeling or being sick and problems sleeping.
Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking prochlorperazine. They'll probably want to reduce your dose gradually to stop you having withdrawal symptoms.
If you forget to take it
For motion sickness, if you miss your dose take it as soon as you remember.
For anything else, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Never take 2 doses at the same time.
If you take too much
Taking too much prochlorperazine can be dangerous.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you take more than the recommended dose of prochlorperazine
Go to 111 online or call 111. If you need advice for a child under the age of 5 years old, call 111.
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring the prochlorperazine packet or leaflet inside it, any remaining medicine, and any other medicines you take.