Basic Stemetil Information

• INN (International Nonproprietary Name): Prochlorperazine.
• Brand Names Available In United Kingdom: Stemetil, Compazine and various generics; tablets (5 mg), injections and suppositories are listed in the raw data.
• ATC Code: N05AB04.
• Forms & Dosages: Tablets 5 mg and 10 mg (rare 25 mg); suppositories (25 mg); injectable ampoules/vials 5 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL for IM/IV use; oral solution/syrup 5 mg/5 mL.
• Manufacturers In United Kingdom: not specified.
• Registration Status In United Kingdom: not specified.
• OTC / Rx Classification: Prescription Only (Rx) in all major jurisdictions.

Instructions And Warnings For UK Patients

Read this before using Stemetil (prochlorperazine) and follow the advice of your GP, NHS clinician or pharmacist.

This medicine is prescription-only; do not start or stop it without professional advice.

If you notice sudden breathing problems, severe drowsiness, fever with stiff muscles or confusion stop the medicine and seek urgent help because these may be signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Keep Stemetil at room temperature between 15–30°C and protect it from excessive moisture and light.

Store all forms out of reach of children and return expired medicines to a pharmacy for safe disposal.

Real formulations available include tablets (commonly 5 mg), suppositories and hospital injectable forms.

Plan dosing around work and commuting and avoid alcohol while taking prochlorperazine because alcohol increases drowsiness and hypotension risk.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland check your entitlement to free prescriptions; in England expect the standard NHS prescription charge unless you are exempt.

Short Checklist To Give At Point Of Dispensing:

• Medicine name and dose: Stemetil (prochlorperazine), strength and pack quantity.
• Indication and expected course length (usually short for nausea).
• Common side effects to watch for and urgent red flags to report.
• Storing instructions: 15–30°C, away from children.
• Advice on driving and alcohol.

Pharmacist Counselling Script (Short):

• "This is Stemetil, active ingredient prochlorperazine; take 5–10 mg three to four times a day for nausea unless your prescriber has given different instructions."
• "It can make you drowsy and dizzy, so do not drive until you know how it affects you."
• "If you develop muscle spasms, severe stiffness, fever or breathing difficulty, stop and seek urgent medical attention."
• "Store at room temperature and bring a list of all medicines to each prescription renewal so we can check for interactions."

Everyday Use And Best Practices

Morning Vs Evening Dosing

Decide dosing times by when nausea is worst and by how drowsy the medicine makes you.

For nausea the common adult dose is 5–10 mg orally three to four times daily; injectable options are used for severe vomiting when the oral route is not possible.

When drowsiness is a problem, schedule larger doses in the evening to preserve daytime alertness.

For chronic psychiatric indications dosing is titrated by a specialist and should never be self-adjusted.

Practical Morning/Evening Comparison:

• Morning doses may help stop early-day nausea but may cause morning dizziness for some people.
• Evening doses can reduce daytime sedation if larger doses are taken at night.
• Split doses evenly across waking hours if nausea is persistent and sedation is minimal.

Taking With Or Without Meals (UK Diet Habits)

Stemetil can be taken with or without food and taking it after a light meal often helps reduce stomach upset and dizziness.

A typical UK breakfast of tea and toast provides a small amount of food that can blunt initial nausea from tablets without delaying absorption significantly.

Avoid very large meals immediately before taking a dose if you notice postural hypotension or light-headedness.

Use tools to stay adherent such as a medication calendar, NHS app reminders or a pill organiser.

Carry a small card stating the medication name (prochlorperazine/Stemetil) and dose so ambulance or A&E staff have immediate information if you are unwell.

Safety Priorities

Who Should Avoid It (MHRA Warnings)

Do not take prochlorperazine if you have a known hypersensitivity to prochlorperazine or other phenothiazines.

Avoid use in comatose patients or those with severe central nervous system depression and in patients with bone marrow depression.

Elderly patients, particularly those with dementia, should use it with caution because antipsychotics are associated with increased mortality in dementia-related psychosis.

Discuss alternatives if you have Parkinson's disease, severe liver or kidney impairment, epilepsy or significant cardiovascular disease.

Activities To Limit (Driving, Work Safety)

Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Stemetil affects you because drowsiness and blurred vision are common.

If your job is safety-critical, such as driving an HGV, working at height or operating machinery, inform occupational health and your prescriber and record any restrictions.

Practical Employer-Facing Note Template:

• "Employee is prescribed prochlorperazine (Stemetil). The medication may cause drowsiness and impaired concentration. Please refer to occupational health for task assessment."

Dosage And Adjustments

General Regimen (NHS Guidance)

Typical adult dosing for acute severe nausea is 5–10 mg orally three to four times a day.

Injectable forms are commonly 5 mg/mL or 12.5 mg/mL and used in hospital when oral administration is not possible.

Treatment for nausea is usually a short course, often under seven days, while psychiatric uses are reviewed and titrated by specialists.

Special Cases (Elderly, Comorbidities)

Start elderly patients on the lowest effective dose and monitor closely for sedation, hypotension and extrapyramidal symptoms.

Reduce doses in liver or kidney impairment because clearance may be reduced.

Children require weight-based dosing and use in under‑2s or under 10 kg is generally not recommended without specialist approval.

Missed Dose Rule: take a missed dose as soon as remembered unless it is nearly time for the next dose; do not double up.

User Testimonials

Positive Reports From UK Patients

Many UK patients report rapid relief of nausea with prochlorperazine tablets or suppositories, especially for travel sickness and migraine-associated nausea.

Positive themes include quick onset for parenteral use, low cost with generic options and familiarity among NHS prescribers.

Common Challenges (Patient.info, NHS Forums)

Common complaints on community pages include drowsiness, dry mouth and stiffness or tremor consistent with extrapyramidal reactions.

Some patients report needing dose adjustments to manage daytime sedation or being switched to ondansetron for chemotherapy-related nausea due to tolerability differences.

Typical Positive Versus Negative Comments:

• Positive: "Stopped my travel sickness within an hour; the 5 mg tablet did the trick."
• Negative: "Felt very sleepy all day and had jaw stiffness after two doses."

When reading testimonials, focus on consistent patterns and discuss any concerns with a GP or pharmacist rather than changing treatment based on a single anecdote.

Buying Guide

Pharmacy Sources (Boots, LloydsPharmacy, Superdrug)

Stemetil (prochlorperazine) is prescription-only in the UK and is supplied via GP prescriptions, urgent treatment centres or NHS 111 advice pathways.

Collect prescriptions from national chains such as Boots, LloydsPharmacy and Superdrug or from local community pharmacies.

Some online pharmacies dispense by post after receiving an e-prescription.

Price Comparison (NHS Prescription Charge Vs Private)

In England expect the standard NHS prescription charge unless you are exempt, while prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Private purchase is possible but uncommon; generics are generally cheaper than branded preparations and pharmacies can advise on cost-effective options.

In our online pharmacy, stemetil is available without a prescription, with discreet delivery to United Kingdom in 5-14 days.

Checks: hospital-only injectable forms are not retail items and are supplied by hospital pharmacy teams.

What’s Inside And How It Works

Ingredients Overview

The active ingredient is prochlorperazine, a phenothiazine derivative marketed under names such as Stemetil and Compazine.

Tablet strengths commonly include 5 mg and 10 mg; suppositories and injectable ampoules are also used.

Non-active ingredients vary by manufacturer; ask the pharmacist if you have excipient allergies.

Mechanism Basics Explained Simply

Prochlorperazine blocks dopamine receptors in brain areas that trigger nausea, which explains its antiemetic effect at low doses.

At higher doses it acts as an antipsychotic, accounting for uses in psychosis and why movement side effects can occur.

This receptor blockade also explains common effects such as drowsiness and extrapyramidal symptoms like tremor or dystonia.

Main Indications

Approved Uses (MHRA Listing)

MHRA-authorised indications include severe nausea and vomiting and psychotic disorders, with prochlorperazine commonly used as an antiemetic in primary and secondary care.

Injectable forms are used in hospitals where patients cannot tolerate oral medication.

Off-Label Uses In UK Clinics

Clinicians sometimes use prochlorperazine for migraine-related nausea, vertigo-related vomiting or agitation in palliative care when other antiemetics are unsuitable.

Off-label prescribing should always be documented and discussed with the prescriber, with patient consent.

If nausea recurs, discuss longer-term plans and alternatives such as ondansetron for chemotherapy-induced nausea or metoclopramide for a prokinetic effect.

Interaction Warnings

Food Interactions (Alcohol, Tea/Coffee)

Avoid alcohol while taking Stemetil because it increases sedation and the risk of low blood pressure.

Caffeine in tea or coffee will not directly interact but may mask sedation.

Be cautious with foods high in tyramine if combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors prescribed for other conditions.

Drug Conflicts (MHRA Yellow Card Reports)

Prochlorperazine interacts with other central nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines and opioids and with anticholinergic drugs.

Medications that prolong the QT interval should be co-prescribed cautiously and Parkinson’s drugs may have reduced effectiveness or worsened motor symptoms when combined with prochlorperazine.

Report any suspected adverse reactions or interactions to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme via their website or app.

Bring an up-to-date medicines list to the pharmacy to allow a formal interaction check at each prescription renewal.

Latest Evidence And Insights

Key UK & EU Studies 2022–2025

Recent UK and EU reviews up to 2025 support prochlorperazine’s efficacy for acute nausea but emphasise cautious use in older adults due to fall risk and extrapyramidal events.

Comparative trials show ondansetron is often preferred for chemotherapy- or postoperative-induced nausea because of a more favourable side-effect profile, while prochlorperazine remains a cost-effective primary-care option.

Practical Implications For Patients

Clinicians now favour short courses at the lowest effective dose and consider alternatives for vulnerable patients such as the elderly or those with neurological disease.

If you are concerned, ask your GP whether recent guidance affects your prescription and whether deprescribing or switching is appropriate.

Alternative Choices

NHS Prescribing Alternatives With Pros/Cons Checklist

Common alternatives available on the NHS include ondansetron, metoclopramide, promethazine and, in some settings, haloperidol.

• Ondansetron: fewer movement side effects but often more costly.
• Metoclopramide: helpful for gastric stasis but has its own risk of tardive dyskinesia with longer use.
• Promethazine: effective antiemetic but more sedating.

When To Discuss Switching With Your GP

Consider switching if you have persistent severe drowsiness, extrapyramidal reactions such as dystonia, inadequate symptom control, pregnancy planning or a role requiring sustained alertness.

Book a medication review with your GP or request a pharmacist consultation to compare options and, if appropriate, request an NHS-funded change.

Regulation Snapshot

MHRA Approval & NHS Prescribing Framework

Prochlorperazine is classified ATC N05AB04 and is prescription-only in major jurisdictions.

The MHRA oversees safety and licensing in the UK and local NHS formularies determine the drug's place in therapy.

Brand names such as Stemetil and Compazine appear in listings, but generics from manufacturers like Teva and Sandoz are commonly dispensed.

Safety Reporting & Yellow Card

Both patients and clinicians should report adverse drug reactions to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme online or via the mobile app.

If a problem is suspected with a batch or packaging, keep the box with the batch number and contact the supplying pharmacy and the MHRA.

FAQ

Can I Drive While Taking Stemetil?

Not until you know how it affects you, because drowsiness and blurred vision are common side effects.

If your role is safety-critical contact DVLA or occupational health for tailored advice.

Is It Safe In Pregnancy?

Do not self-medicate if pregnant; seek GP or specialist advice because pregnancy guidance differs by drug and indication.

What If I Get Muscle Spasms Or Restlessness?

Stop the medicine and seek urgent advice as these may be extrapyramidal effects that need prompt treatment.

How Long Will My Prescription Last?

For nausea indications courses are usually short, often less than seven days, while long-term use requires specialist review and monitoring.

Guidelines For Proper Use

UK Pharmacist Counselling Style

When dispensing Stemetil, confirm the indication and review the patient’s medicines for interactions and allergies.

Advise on drowsiness, driving restrictions and the dosing schedule, and issue written information such as a leaflet and a reminder card.

Highlight urgent signs to report, including breathing problems, high fever with stiffness, severe muscle spasms and sudden confusion.

NHS Patient Support Advice

Use NHS 111 for urgent advice, the GP for repeat or unresolved problems and pharmacy minor ailment services for short-term supply where available.

If work is affected request occupational health advice and a written statement about any functional limitations.

Practical Counselling Checklist For Pharmacists:

• Confirm indication and expected duration of treatment.
• Review interactions and provide a drug-interaction check.
• Advise on storage 15–30°C and what to do with missed doses.
• Provide Yellow Card reporting information and a reminder card.

Delivery Across United Kingdom