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Procot Side Effects

Generic name: prochlorperazine

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 4, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Procot Side Effects associated with prochlorperazine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Procot.

Applies to prochlorperazine: oral tablet.

Other dosage forms:

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (tablet)

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death compared with placebo.

Although the causes of death in clinical trials were varied, most deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (eg, heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (eg, pneumonia) in nature.

Observational studies suggest that, similar to atypical antipsychotic drugs, treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality.

It is unclear from these studies to what extent the mortality findings may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to patient characteristics.

Prochlorperazine maleate is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor should check the progress of you and your child at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Check with your doctor before using this medicine with alcohol or other medicines that affect the central nervous system (CNS). The use of alcohol or other medicines that affect the CNS with risperidone may worsen the side effects of this medicine, such as dizziness, poor concentration, drowsiness, unusual dreams, and trouble with sleeping. Some examples of medicines that affect the CNS are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicines, medicine for depression, medicine for anxiety, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics.

This medicine may cause extrapyramidal symptoms. Check with your doctor right away if you have difficulty in speaking, drooling, loss of balance control, muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness, restlessness, shuffling walk, stiffness of the limbs, twisting movements of the body, or uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back.

This medicine may cause drowsiness, trouble with thinking, or trouble with controlling body movements, which may lead to falls, fractures or other injuries. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do other jobs that require you to be alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If this problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may make it more difficult for your body to cool itself down. Use care not to become overheated during exercise or hot weather since overheating may result in heat stroke. Also, use extra care not to become too cold while you are receiving risperidone injection. If you become too cold, you may feel drowsy, confused, or clumsy.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

This medicine may cause tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder). Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: lip smacking or puckering, puffing of the cheeks, rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue, uncontrolled chewing movements, or uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs.

Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: convulsions (seizures), difficulty with breathing, a fast heartbeat, a high fever, high or low blood pressure, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, severe muscle stiffness, unusually pale skin, or tiredness. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

Prochlorperazine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Procot

Along with its needed effects, prochlorperazine (the active ingredient contained in Procot) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking prochlorperazine:

Incidence not known

  • agitation
  • black, tarry stools
  • chest pain
  • clay-colored stools
  • constipation
  • dark urine
  • decrease in how much or how often you urinate
  • diarrhea
  • difficulty in swallowing and breathing
  • dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when suddenly getting up from a lying or sitting position
  • drooling
  • drowsiness
  • dryness of the mouth
  • fever and chills
  • headache
  • inability to have or keep an erection
  • loss of appetite
  • mask-like face
  • nasal congestion
  • nausea
  • painful or difficult urination
  • shuffling walk
  • sore throat
  • sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  • stomach pain
  • swollen glands
  • tightness of the throat
  • trembling and shaking of the fingers and hands
  • uncontrolled chewing movements and movements of the arms and legs
  • unpleasant breath odor
  • unusual bleeding or bruising
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • vomiting of blood
  • yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking prochlorperazine:

Symptoms of overdose

Other side effects of Procot

Some side effects of prochlorperazine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

  • blurred vision
  • increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
  • irregular menstrual periods
  • itching, rash, redness, or discoloration of the skin
  • jitteriness
  • trouble sleeping

For healthcare professionals

Applies to prochlorperazine: compounding powder, injectable solution, oral capsule extended release, oral syrup, oral tablet, rectal suppository.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported adverse effects in greater than 1% of patients included constipation, dry mouth, mild leukopenia, rigidity, blurred vision, drowsiness, dyskinesia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tremor/tremulousness.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects may be correlated with higher doses and may occur more frequently in patients with risk factors (e.g., patients with cardiac disease, hypokalemia, receiving tricyclic antidepressants, and/or who are elderly).

Cyanosis occurred in pediatric patients who developed laryngospasm from serious dystonic tractions.

Hypotension occurred more frequently in patients who received IM doses of this drug.

Dermatologic

Skin pigmentation and epithelial keratopathy occurred in patients who received large doses over a prolonged duration.

Endocrine

Gastrointestinal

Genitourinary

Hematologic

Blood dyscrasias included pancytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, hemolytic anemia, and aplastic anemia.

Mild leukopenia occurred in patients given high doses for prolonged durations.

Hepatic

Hypersensitivity

Metabolic

Musculoskeletal

Nervous system

Acute dystonia was usually transitory, but was more commonly reported in young adults and children shortly after beginning treatment or increasing the dosage.

Akathisia usually occurred in patients who were given large initial doses.

Autonomic dysfunction included dry mouth, nasal congestion, headache, nausea, constipation, obstipation, adynamic ileus, ejaculatory disorders/impotence, priapism, atonic colon, urinary retention, miosis, and mydriasis.

Extrapyramidal reactions include acute dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia. These reactions have lasted months to years, especially in elderly patients with brain damage.

Grand and petit mal convulsions have occurred in patients with/with a history of EEG abnormalities.

Parkinsonism typically occurred in adults and elderly patients after weeks to months of treatment, and included tremor, rigidity, akinesia, and most commonly, tremor.

Ocular

Other

Psychiatric

Renal

Respiratory

See also:

References

1. (2022) "Product Information. Stemetil (prochlorperazine)." Sanofi

2. (2024) "Product Information. Prochlorperazine Maleate (prochlorperazine)." Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc

3. (2024) "Product Information. Compro (prochlorperazine)." Padagis

4. (2025) "Product Information. Prochlorperazine Edisylate (prochlorperazine)." Civica Inc

5. (2025) "Product Information. proCHLORPERazine (WGR) (proCHLORPERazine)." Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd

6. (2025) "Product Information. Stemetil (proCHLORPERazine)." Orspec Pharma Pty Ltd

7. (2025) "Product Information. proCHLORPERazine (Apo) (proCHLORPERazine)." Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd

8. (2023) "Product Information. Buccastem M (prochlorperazine)." Alliance Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Frequently asked questions

Further information

Procot side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.