Compazine and Irritability: What Users Say

• Eve...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2021

For Anxiety "I went to the ER twice for migraines, and both times they gave me Compazine. The worst experience of my life. I felt like I was going to tear the walls down, I just wanted to tell everyone to shut up. I couldn’t stand the noise or the talking. I couldn’t even stand my phone ringing, and me having to answer, I didn’t even want to text. Now I suffer from severe anxiety, and I have never felt so restless, agitated, and anxious. I thought I was going to pull my hair out. Since I drove myself to the ER, I had to drive myself back, which I made it home, but while home, I wanted to just jump out of my window. I took one Benadryl, and it didn’t help, it just made me feel more restless. I had to take Ativan, and it helped to the point where I was able to sleep, but even in my sleep, I was jittery and still a bit anxious, shaking. My husband doesn’t believe me, and it is hard to explain, but now that I read these stories, I know now I’m allergic to Compazine."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "Another horror story about Compazine. I went to the ER with a migraine and neck pain that would not break. The doctor gave me their “migraine cocktail” and a few minutes later, I started shaking. I struggle with anxiety and was obviously upset because of the headache, so at first, I thought that was it. However, as time went on, I got more and more agitated. I couldn’t sit still or stop moving my legs. I wanted to rip out my IV and leave! I even tried to disconnect it a few times. Eventually, I just sat there, crying and rocking back and forth on my bed like I was going crazy. I told the doctor how I was feeling, and she said it was common. She gave me some Ativan which helped after 2 or 3 hours. I’m so thankful I was able to sleep after that. What a terrifying experience. I will be putting this on my allergy list. Please check before you get a “migraine cocktail!”"

• MMa...
• February 18, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "I went into the ER for a migraine. The nurse gave me a 'cocktail' of meds: Toradol, Compazine, and Benadryl. He told me my migraine should be gone within 15 minutes. BUT within minutes of the Compazine being given to me through IV, I felt the worst I have ever felt. Agitated, restless, scared. It was the worst anxiety/panic I have felt. I wanted to die so bad. I NEEDED help and I kept calling out, and they just told me 'it'll wear off.' I was hollering and crying and upset and absolutely terrified. I couldn't stop shaking, I wanted to rip my IV out and run out of there as fast as I could. It's been 2 weeks and I still don't feel like myself. I have these bursts of panic and nausea, I feel completely and utterly distraught. I told my doctor about it, but they just dismissed me. I'm scared this feeling will never go away. It was completely traumatizing, and I don't recommend this to anyone ever. I do not wish this on my worst enemy, and you couldn't get me to take this again for a billion dollars."

• JMG...
• March 23, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "My wife was administered Compazine after receiving chemo to relieve nausea symptoms. Within 12 hours, she became restless, irritable, felt like her muscles were being ripped out of her body, it caused her to have a 103 fever and diarrhea, coupled with the chemo almost killed her. She ended up in the ICU unconscious and almost died. Our team of doctors told us this was a rare occurrence. From reading the other reviews and witnessing this firsthand, I would advise anyone, if offered this drug, to decline. It was truly the biggest nightmare of my wife's life. On the scale of 1-10 above, this survey asked to select how effective this medicine was. Therefore, we would give it a 0=ZERO."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2015

For Nausea/Vomiting "Very bad side effects. Given by IV in the emergency room for severe migraine. Jaw clenching, agitation, loss of appetite, groggy, incessant urination (with a foul smell). Side effects lasted for a week after administration."

• NE6...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "I had experienced high agitation and restlessness with this drug before, so it’s been on my allergy list. Unfortunately, I was going through a difficult procedure, and it’s the only anti-emetic this office offered. It had been over 10 years since I took it, so I figured I’d try it again. Bad idea. This drug causes severe anxiety, agitation, muscle pain, and a general feeling of needing to rip out of your skin! I remember now why it was on my DO NOT USE list, the effects stay with you for a long time too. I will never take this again. There’s a reason it’s listed as a mental health drug/antipsychotic. In my opinion, it MAKES you psychotic."

• Yik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "Please don’t take this medication. They gave it to me through IV as a part of their useless “migraine cocktail,” which needs to be discontinued in and of itself. Needless to say, within 10 seconds, I was hot, sweaty, agitated - ready to pull the IV out, and I’ve had RLS before, this was a tad worse. The pure akathisia felt like hell. Then they gave me this as opposed to stronger meds because they were worried about me driving, but hell - if only they knew that this was more dangerous to drive with, maybe they would have reconsidered. This stuff makes you feel depersonalized, more sick, helplessly “under” (the best way I can put it), and the only way out is TIME. Benzos make it more tolerable (slightly). I’m on day two afterward, and I feel fortunate that I’m about 75 percent “back” from whatever hellish trip that was. It’s now on my allergy list. Lawsuit!"

• LCa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was first given Compazine orally for anxiety and nausea. It did not appear to have any side effects. A year later, I was hospitalized following surgery and was extremely nauseous, so after giving me Zofran to no avail, they gave me Compazine IV. It burned going into my arm. I became very agitated and restless, my body could not stop shaking, and I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. Luckily, they gave me Benadryl, and that helped calm me down a bit, but it took a couple of days to feel myself again. Will never take IV again."

• Sky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "This did take away my nausea, but it also made my heart pound and made me extremely irritable and anxious for about 20 hours. Even with a Benadryl, I couldn’t sit still for about 10 hours after taking it, and I had lingering anxiety 10 hours after that. I had a similar experience with Reglan, and the ER doc I saw said they are similar drugs. I would say if Reglan gives you a reaction, there’s a good chance this will too. It did its job, but I would have taken the nausea over the anxiety any day."

• sas...
• April 5, 2023

For Nausea/Vomiting "Uh... No, just no. I was given this through an IV at the ER for nausea because of issues with my gallbladder. Seconds after getting this, I felt extremely hot. I was so agitated my leg was moving like crazy, and my lip and teeth were gripping together so badly that I thought I was going to break my teeth. I was asking the doctor to let me leave. They had to give me Ativan to help me relax, and thank God that worked. I never in my life want to be on that medicine again."

• DJC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was given this medication in an IV along with Benadryl for a migraine. It made me feel anxious. It was still pretty subtle, and I was able to hide the reaction from drs. At the time, I just thought it was me feeling that way because I was visiting the dr a lot. But I thought it was strange I suddenly felt that way after the meds were pushed. I just didn’t realize a medication could make you feel that way. It made me want to rip my IV out and run out of the hospital. I remember the room was also a little cold, and that made me agitated. I just had a hard time sitting still. I followed up with a nurse a few days after when they tried to give me Compazine again, and I told her about my experience, and she said it was definitely the Compazine that I was feeling. It did help my pain though... But I won’t be taking it again."

• Nev...
• March 29, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "Went in for a bad migraine, and I warned them that the last time I had the 'migraine cocktail' using Reglan, it made me feel absolutely horrible with agitation. They said, don't worry, we will use Compazine, and that one might be better for you. I shouldn't have been so stupid because it was even worse than Reglan. All the same stuff happened, feeling extremely agitated, wanting to rip my IV out, couldn't sit still, feeling like I was going to die. I am still coming down from it a day later."

• ALg...
• October 10, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "While on vacation, I went to the ER with dehydration and nausea, was given IV Compazine, and discharged. On the way home, with my husband driving, I began having thoughts of jumping out of the moving car! Once back at our rental house, I began pacing, couldn't sit still for more than a few minutes, felt my heart beating wildly in my chest, had an astronomical BP (which I only have problems with when I am anxious, but I do monitor on a daily basis), and considered jumping off the two-story deck more than once. I've never considered jumping out of a car or hurting myself in any way until receiving this medication. I literally felt as if I was going to come out of my skin due to extreme agitation. Finally, after about 6 hours of this nightmare, the effects began to wear off, and I've been okay since. I have no allergies to anything else, but I consider this incident the result of some sort of allergic reaction and now list it as such in my medical history everywhere I go. Proceed with caution!"

• Fat...
• July 10, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "Was given Compazine with Benadryl in the ER for a severe migraine that was preceded by an aura and included light, sound, and smell sensitivity, as well as nausea and vomiting. I suffer from chronic migraines and have since I was a little girl (cisgender). I remember my first-grade teacher laying me under her desk and putting her coat over my eyes to help while waiting for my mom. My biological mom (who was diagnosed with a brain CCM) also has chronic migraines, as did her biological father. Once given the Compazine, I became anxious, agitated, couldn't hold still, wanted to crawl out of my skin! My then SO had to beg the nurses to call in the doctor to do something, I was about to tear out the IV drip and run! They finally gave me some Ativan, and I calmed down. Shift change happened, and my new nurse said she's seen it happen a few times before, and she doesn't like the Compazine/Benadryl for migraines."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2015

For Nausea/Vomiting "Beware, this medicine causes agitation in a lot of people. The feeling is indescribable, though some have told me it's like withdrawals. Awful stuff. Felt like my skin was crawling. Just awful."

• Cj1...
• December 27, 2015

For Nausea/Vomiting "Extreme agitation and anxiety... Never again... Very restless."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was given this in the hospital for a migraine. It made me extremely irritable. I wanted to run out of the hospital. Do not take this medication."