Prochlorperazine and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "I’m so surprised reading all the reviews of this drug! One evening I opened my eyes, and the room was just SPINNING - I was terrified and couldn’t even get up or walk. My roommates had to help me to the doctor, where I was diagnosed with vestibular neuritis with vertigo. The doctor wanted to prescribe me regular Gravol, but I insisted I needed something more, I was so horribly sick. He prescribed me 5 mg of prochlorperazine, and I found it helps to prevent vertigo attacks as well as really helps manage them. I have panic disorder, chronic anxiety, and depression, and I haven’t experienced any of these side effects! I find it actually relaxes me and takes care of the nausea and dizziness quickly. Maybe I’m just psychotic and meant to be on this med! Haha"

• AJO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2019

Prochlorperazine for Nausea/Vomiting "Y'all, my experience was exactly like so many others. I was having dizzy spells for over a week and then suddenly had the world's worst headache, so I went in. They gave me Toradol and Compazine through an IV, and within ten minutes, I thought I was going insane. I asked to go to the bathroom just to get out of the room. I couldn't sit still and felt so panicked. On my way back from the bathroom, I seriously considered ripping out my IV. When the nurse came in, I stopped my fluids and went home. Had to sign a paper that I was refusing treatment, but I couldn't be in that room any longer."

• Bir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2020

Prochlorperazine for Nausea/Vomiting "Went to the ER with extreme dizziness. They wound up giving me Compazine. I wasn’t even familiar with what it was. I felt strange at first, but then my hands contorted and froze. My mouth had almost completely clamped shut. An orderly or a CNA just happened to come by to empty trash. I barely was able to say, 'Please go get someone, something’s not right.' The doctor at first thought I had stroked. He ran some tests, gave me some Benadryl, which helped. I would never take this drug again."

• Sha...
• November 6, 2019

Prochlorperazine for Nausea/Vomiting "This was, like many others on here have said, a terrifying ER experience. I was given Compazine for what they thought was a migraine, plus Benadryl because they warned me about the anxiety. Upon giving it to me via IV, I felt a wave of panic enter my body. My heart stopped for a moment. I immediately wanted to get out of the hospital and tried to rip my IV out. I thought that would be the end of it. But it wasn't. I had crippling anxiety over the next 5 days! Yes, FIVE days. I had constant panic attacks where I would have to stop driving and pull over. One time I almost fainted during a meeting and had to go to the clinic. This drug made me dizzy, lightheaded, feeling like I was going to pass out all the time, gave me the strangest head pressure/tingling feeling, heart racing constantly. I will never ever take this drug again. Worst experience."

• Me2...
• January 22, 2021

Prochlorperazine for Nausea/Vomiting "I went to the doctor because of my dizziness and nausea. The doctor had prescribed Compazine to me for my nausea, which didn’t even work. Jump forward a few days, and I go to the ER to see if they can do something about it when I noticed I started having seizure-like attacks, where my body would stay in one position and my eyes would roll to the back of my head. The doctor said it was because I was allergic to the drug, even though I didn’t know. But isn’t Compazine supposed to no longer be sold?"

• Dra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2022

Prochlorperazine for Nausea/Vomiting "Was given this drug in the ER for a migraine and nausea, they didn’t tell me what they were given, and I had the worst headache and didn’t even ask. Lo and behold, this medicine ruined my life after one dose!!! Was given with Benadryl, and I felt extremely anxious, panicky, my legs and body were so restless I thought I was gonna die on the CT table. I couldn’t put words together. It’s been 5 days, and I’m still not the same: panic attacks galore, anxiety, tight band around head/headache, fear of doom, and dizziness galore. This should be illegal."

• pea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "I get severe nausea from IBS and anxiety, the only thing that has helped is prochlorperazine 5 mg! Don't be scared by these reviews, 95% of the bad reviews are talking about IV/injection prochlorperazine, which clearly reacts very differently to the much lower pill dose. Within 30 minutes, all of my nausea and most of my anxiety disappear, and it doesn't make me sleepy or dizzy either - unless I take more than one pill or take it with other medications that cause drowsiness. I never review medications, but I had to show that not everyone has a bad experience with this med."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have anxiety, but I was prescribed this medication for my vertigo and sickness problem I randomly have ATM, and I’m so dizzy. But after taking these, I feel better. I then read that it can help with anxiety, and my panic attacks have been so bad I just wanted them to stop. So I started taking the medication for anxiety, and I haven't had an attack in 2 days, really. But I’m reading all these reviews, and now I’m scared to take it because my panic attacks got worse. I have no idea what I would do, to be honest. Not sure if I should carry on taking them if they give you permanent damage anxiety-wise."

• Cha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 16, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "I got two aural migraines in one day. I had never had nausea before from migraines, but all of a sudden, I had nausea, dizziness, vomiting, etc. My mum ran out to the chemist and got me these pills. Within half an hour, I was feeling so much better, it was unbelievable. It was my 21st party that night, and these pills saved me from missing out on the whole evening! I've also taken one tonight to help with nausea and dizziness from new antidepressants, and it has worked a charm."

• Liv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2019

Prochlorperazine for Nausea/Vomiting "I went to the ER when I was experiencing headaches and vomiting due to a new medication I was put on. The doctors gave me Compazine, Toradol, and Benadryl through my IV. After a few minutes, I experienced the worst feelings of my life. I was thrown into a huge panic attack, I couldn't sit still, my heart rate rose to over 130. I had to stay in the hospital for 5 extra hours just to get my heart rate to return to normal. It took 24+ hours for the initial panic feeling to go away, and now going on 48 hours, my head still feels all foggy and I get dizzy when I stand up for long periods of time. I hope I return to normal soon, and I would not recommend this medication to anyone!!"

• Anonymous
• July 28, 2009

Prochlorperazine for Nausea/Vomiting "I am an older adult in good health. I originally had dizziness (possibly from a virus or sinus bug), which caused nausea. This medication took away both symptoms within 1-2 hours, and I was able to carry on with my normal activities."

• Bet...
• November 24, 2015

For Nausea/Vomiting "It's not often I get norovirus, but when my stomach is empty and the heaving persists, this helps me. It does make me tired. So I sleep it off. By the time I wake up, the heaving has ceased. Maybe I've experienced some dizziness. But with a virus, I wasn't intending to clean my house or run a marathon! I'll just take heaving cessation!"

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "Went to the ER for nausea and dizziness. They gave me this horrible medication in my IV. Once it hit my bloodstream, I went straight into panic mode. I wanted to rip the IV out and run home. I had anxiety and panic attacks since they gave me this horrible medication. It needs to be taken off the market. Doctors need to warn patients about the side effects before giving it to them. Just horrible."

• MJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2021

Prochlorperazine for Anxiety "Please beware! All bad reviews about Compazine are true. I went to the ER for dizziness and chest pains. The doctor said she was going to give me something for anxiety. The nurse came in and gave me Compazine through IV. She forced it really fast so she could send me for an X-ray on my chest. She left, and within a matter of seconds, I felt a wave of heat in my body. I started taking the IV out and the blood pressure cuff off. I ran to the restroom looking for a window to jump out of. I started yelling, calling the nurse and asking, 'What did you do to me?' I have never felt like this before in my life. She called the doctor, they gave me Benadryl to try to reverse it. Two weeks later, I was still experiencing extreme anxiety and had never had anxiety before."

• Can...
• October 4, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE!! Came into the doctor for new vertigo and feeling virusy (I have POTS and chronic fatigue too). Doctor said he would give me some Stemetil (prochlorperazine) in IV for vertigo. Within 10 minutes of this being injected in, I wanted to crawl out of my own skin, it was so uncomfortable. Dizziness became 10 times worse, all my muscles stiffened up, and I could barely walk. Extremely restless, although super drowsy and could barely keep my eyes open. It was 10 a.m. when I got it, and I ended up going back home and lying in bed fully awake but not being able to open my eyes for 12 hours. Intense shivering, didn't eat a thing, dizziness so bad I couldn't stand, and intense tachycardia from any form of movement. It took 12 hours before I got any form of relief, mum nearly rushed back into the ER. It took 3-4 days of recovery to be able to get out of bed properly. IF YOU HAVE A CHRONIC ILLNESS, DO NOT TAKE THIS STUFF. Never felt so awful in my entire life, legit wanted to die."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "SCARIEST drug on the market. This drug forever changed my life and not for the better. Three months after a single intravenous dose in an emergency room for nausea, I still randomly and suddenly re-feel the effects of this drug. It honestly makes me feel awful whenever the effects re-emerge. The hospital deemed me 'allergic to the medication' after experiencing seizures that keep occurring for 72 hours, along with severe restlessness accompanied by dizziness, involuntary movements, and severe panic. I paced back and forth, unable to sit or sleep for five days straight. MY SKIN STILL CRAWLS AND MY BONES WANT TO JUMP OUT OF MY BODY BECAUSE OF COMPAZINE (discontinued name for prochlorperazine, FYI). READ AND BELIEVE THE REVIEWS, PEOPLE!!!! THIS DRUG IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS and truly destroys lives. I have never been so afraid and disoriented in my entire life as I was on this medication. I never could have imagined what an 'out of body' experience was truly like until I was administered Compazine."

• GT4...
• August 10, 2017

For Anxiety "I was given this for a really bad headache - migraine. This med is going on my allergy list, and I'm NOT going to take it ever again! I consider it poison! I already have anxiety, and I was given med through IV in the ER along with Benadryl. I was told it could make me jittery, but the Benadryl counteracts that. Bull! All of a sudden, I couldn't think, I couldn't talk right, I was so restless but so tired and sleepy at the same time. I was so hot! They gave me a clipboard to fan myself. I wasn't comfortable sitting. I wasn't comfortable standing. I too wanted to rip my IV out and run away. It was one of the WORST experiences of my life! They gave me more Benadryl, and that did help, but I didn't feel like myself that night and felt agitated, dizzy, and headache the next day. I got better, thank God!"

• Ggy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "Went to the hospital today because I was suffering from vertigo and nausea. They gave me this medication to stop that, and instead, I had the worst-ever panic attack and could not stop shaking. Felt like I was about to jump out of my own body and just all around a very disgusting feeling of not being able to sit still. Thankfully, went to another hospital that gave me an antidote against this. Felt better almost immediately and fell asleep. Still feeling a little jittery at the moment, but not as bad as before, which is good. But I wouldn't recommend this. Ask the hospital for a different drug to treat you, this was the worst experience of my life."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2018

"Horrible drug. I woke up one morning feeling dizzy and nauseous, went to the doctor. They explained I had vertigo. The doctor did a neck test on me, then the nurse administered the prochlorperazine into my IV. Five minutes after, I felt the room closing in on me and felt completely restless and irritable, felt like I was going crazy. I told my partner to tell the nurse what I was feeling. She came to me and said that it was a common side effect to feel “loopy.” However, this is way worse than loopy, it almost made me feel suicidal. I kept sleeping and sleeping to get over the feeling, but it’s still there. It’s only been about 7 hours since I was administered this drug, and reading up about it really made me feel better because I thought I was losing it. From what I read about the side effects easing up, I guess I have about 48 more hours to go until I feel completely normal. I never want to feel like this again!"

• Cra...
• October 16, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "On an early Sunday morning, about 4 a.m., had dizziness, then could not get out of bed for about 2 hours, zero gravity. After daytime, was not too bad, but like being drunk. But as soon as I put my head down to rest, would be 100 times worse. Went to the doctors on Wednesday, was given prochlorperazine. Took for 3 days. First day felt very tense. Keep telling myself must be a panic attack. Last night on tablets thought I was a goner, body trembling all over. Very bad pain in foot. Never been so tense in all my life."

• Joj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2022

Prochlorperazine for Nausea/Vomiting "I was sent to the ER by my GP on Tuesday this week for an irregular ECG. I was feeling completely fine with just a small amount of dizziness. My doctor decided to give me prochlorperazine (Compazine) through my IV. Within 15 minutes, I started to lose my patience. My body started to shake involuntarily. I was becoming aggressive towards my poor partner, who couldn’t understand what was happening. My anxiety was awful!! I begged the nurse to stop the fluids, but she said she was following doctors' orders. I’m 19 years old. It’s been 3 days, and within the first 2 hours, I had vomited, involuntary shakes, high heart rate, and drowsiness. On the second day, I felt better, I had just a bit of a sore stomach from vomiting the day before. And now, on the third day, I’ve been vomiting all afternoon, involuntary shakes, and a tight chest stopping sleep. I’ve been obsessed with reading reviews to find answers to when this will end!"

• Moo...
• July 11, 2021

Prochlorperazine for Nausea/Vomiting "I went to the ED July 10, 2021, for feeling dizzy and nauseous (come to find out I had fluid behind my left ear). Anywho, they gave me Compazine and Benadryl. Let me just say I felt worse leaving the hospital than going in. My dizziness and nausea went away, but I left the hospital feeling like a psych person. My body couldn't stop moving, but at the same time, I was extremely tired. I couldn't even drive home. This drug should definitely be off the market. It took a little over 14 hours to get out of my system."

• Dja...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "Got up with dizziness and feeling of vomiting. Took Stemetil and condition got worse. Felt more sick in my stomach, so bad that I couldn't eat anything. Experienced a horrible chill and kind of depression. Please, if you feel dizzy, go first to check your ears and neck (trapped nerve?). Do not take Stemetil!!"

• Pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2023

For Nausea/Vomiting "I recently had the misfortune of taking prochlorperazine tablets and experienced a multitude of distressing side effects, induced profound dizziness and lightheadedness, leaving me feeling unsteady on my feet. Walking became a precarious task, as I often struggled to maintain balance. Regrettably, this medication proved to be a nightmare for me, and I felt compelled to share my experience to caution others who may consider using it. The side effects did not stop there. I also suffered from a dry mouth, which made speaking and swallowing uncomfortable. This constant parched sensation proved to be a persistent annoyance, affecting my ability to communicate effectively with uncontrollable chewing. I went to the emergency room at the hospital and after an injection of more than 8LT IV, I felt better. Be careful when using this tablet!!!"

• pea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "I take one or two 5 mg tablets when I feel sick from my IBS, and within 45 mins, I feel so much better! The only side effects I get are sometimes a bit dizzy/blurry vision, but it beats constantly feeling like I'm going to throw up."