Prochlorperazine and Irritability: What Users Say

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

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was given Compazine during inpatient chemo treatment in 1999 (as a cheaper anti-nausea med, as I was on Medicaid). The doctors said it 'may' cause agitation/work poorly for younger people (I was 25 at the time). The agitation and horrible feelings were immediate. It got so bad I ended up just twitching, crying, and moaning into my pillow. My skin was crawling, I was flooded with anxiety/panic. I could not lay/sit still. The next chemo treatment was the same, so I never asked for/took it again. I'd rather have gone without anti-nausea meds than go through that again. I later found one of the night doctors who was sympathetic, and I got samples of the good (modern) anti-nausea meds. No akathisia at all."

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

Prochlorperazine 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."

• 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!"

• sas...
• April 5, 2023

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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."

• 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!"

• Nev...
• March 29, 2021

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2022

For Anxiety "I was sent to the emergency room due to an ECG coming up with some anomalies, and my doctor wanted to be cautious and do some investigations. I had mentioned I had a feeling of vertigo and was prescribed prochlorperazine, which was given to me through an IV. I’m 19 years old and was naive enough to think the doctor knew how to help. About 30 minutes in, I started to feel really agitated and started crying, I wanted to rip my IV out! My partner had to keep telling me just 45 more minutes, just 15 more minutes to let me know it was nearly over. I was shaking everywhere, I had no control over my own body. We had done some research and found out he had given me a psychotic drug?! It’s been 16 hours since having it, and I’m still struggling with ‘jitters’ or shaking. My heart rate has calmed down, but my nausea is still there. Vomiting was also accompanied by my reaction. I’ve been looking for how long these side effects will last, hopefully until tomorrow. PLEASE BE AWARE!!"

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was prescribed prochlorperazine for vertigo. I was on it for a week, and it was the worst experience of my life. I thought there was something really wrong with me. I was so agitated, did not sleep for 5 nights, I was going off my head. They should not be allowed to prescribe this tablet to anyone."

• Ben...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "DO NOT RISK TAKING THIS DRUG. I was administered this medication for a random debilitating headache. For the purpose of describing how bad the following 6 hours were of indescribable extreme agitation resulting from this drug, I must compare it to the following 6 days in the hospital (turns out the headache was an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage). I experienced an accidental codeine overdose, three tubes in me including an IV drip, urinary catheter, and another draining liquid out of my brain into a bag, severe anxiety triggering not a second of sleep in over 72 hours/subsequent delirium, two code blues, severe constipation/stomach cramps (nothing for 5 days), 1x double enema, a UTI from the catheter, and to top it all off, a GNO enema administered by two nurses who witnessed me cover myself in my own feces from uncontrollable shaking whilst giving birth to a rock in a bedpan. If I had a choice of taking a single dose of Stemetil or reliving this week, I would relive the week."

• EVN...
• May 3, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "This was given to me for a migraine. Horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE!!!! Feel like you are going to die, increased heart rate, shallow breathing, the need to get up and run, agitated, crying, sweating, had a FULL BLOWN panic attack. THE WORST MEDICINE EVER!!!!"

• Fat...
• July 10, 2021

Prochlorperazine 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

Prochlorperazine 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

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

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

Prochlorperazine 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."