Compazine (Prochlorperazine) Side Effects

Compazine (prochlorperazine) is an antiemetics drug that is used to treat nausea and vomiting. Compazine may be used to treat the nausea and vomiting that can be a symptom of many different medical conditions or occur during chemotherapy and radiation treatment. In higher doses, compazine may also be prescribed to treat the symptoms of certain mental conditions.

Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• Mild constipation
• Decreased sweating
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Dryness of mouth
• Nasal congestion

Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• Menstrual irregularity
• Decreased sex drive
• Photosensitivity
• Swelling, pain or milk secretion in breasts
• Weight gain

Common

• Blurred vision
• Change in color vision
• Fainting
• Loss of balance
• Night blindness
• Restlessness
• Stiffness in legs and arms
• Trembling and shaking of hands and fingers

Less frequent or rare

• Abdominal or stomach pains
• Aching muscles and joints
• Agitation or excitement
• Chest pains
• Difficulty in:
  • sleeping or bizarre dreams
  • urinating
• Dark urine
• Fever and chills
• Hair loss
• Headaches
• Hot, dry skin or lack of sweating
• Rash or severely itchy skin
• Mild confusion
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Prolonged, painful, inappropriate erection
• Redness of hands
• Shivering
• Seizures (convulsions)
• Severe constipation
• Skin or eye discoloration (tan, yellow, or blue-gray)
• Sore throat and fever
• Sores in mouth
• Sunburn (severe)
• Unusual
  • Bleeding or bruising
  • Tiredness or weakness
  • Muscle weakness
  • Pain in joints

More common

• Difficulty in breathing, speaking, or swallowing
• Inability to move eyes
• Increased blinking or eyelid spasms
• Lip smacking or puckering
• Muscle spasms of face, neck, body, arms, or legs causing unusual postures or unusual facial expressions
• Puffing of cheeks
• Rapid or worm-like movements of tongue
• Sticking out of tongue
• Twitching
• Uncontrolled movement or twisting of mouth, neck, arms, legs, or trunk

Rare

• Slow or irregular heart beat
• Recurrent fainting

Less Common or Rare

The following are signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome and should be checked out immediately.

• Confusion (severe) or coma
• Difficulty in speaking or swallowing
• Difficultly in breathing
• Drooling
• Fever
• Irregular (high or low) blood pressure
• Increased sweating
• Loss of bladder control
• Severe muscle stiffness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Severe trembling or shaking

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. This information is meant only as a guideline -- always consult a physician or pharmacist for complete information about prescription medications.

_Source:

_{Three Rivers Endoscopy Center. "All About Compazine (Prochlorperazine)." GIHealth.com 2010. 9 Nov 2010.}