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:

• rectal suppository

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:

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

Symptoms of overdose

• change in consciousness
• fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
• loss of consciousness
• seizures
• severe sleepiness

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:

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

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypotension, peripheral edema, cardiac arrhythmia, ECG changes, QT prolongation, deep vein thrombosis, venous thromboembolism, cyanosis, sudden death of cardiac origin
• Frequency not reported: Fatal hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, ST depression, ventricular/atrial arrhythmias, atrioventricular block, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, U-Wave and T-Wave changes/distortions

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

• Frequency not reported: Rash, dermatitis, skin disorders/reaction, photosensitivity, itching, erythema, urticaria, eczema, exfoliative dermatitis, angioneurotic edema, contact skin sensitization/dermatitis, maculopapular eruptions, erythema multiforme, abnormal pigmentation/skin pigmentation and epithelial keratopathy, metallic gray-mauve coloration to exposed skin (especially with long periods of use)

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

Endocrine

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hyperprolactinemia/elevated prolactin levels, gynecomastia,
• Frequency not reported: Endocrine disturbances, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), false-positive pregnancy tests

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, dry mouth
• Frequency not reported: Gum/mouth irritation, obstipation, atonic colon, paralytic/adynamic ileus, nausea and vomiting

Genitourinary

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Galactorrhea, amenorrhea/menstrual irregularities
• Frequency not reported: Ejaculation disorder/inhibition, priapism, impotence, lactation, urinary retention

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Mild leukopenia (up to 30%)
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Blood dyscrasia
• Frequency not reported: Agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, eosinophilia, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, atypical lymphocytes

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

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Elevated bilirubin and hepatic enzyme levels
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Jaundice/transient jaundice
• Frequency not reported: Liver damage, cholestatic jaundice, cholestasis/biliary stasis

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Angioedema, anaphylactoid reactions, hypersensitivity reactions/type I hypersensitivity reaction

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Hyponatremia, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, increased appetite, increased weight, impaired glucose tolerance

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Rigidity
• Frequency not reported: Trismus, torticollis, systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, shuffling gate, mask-like face

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Drowsiness, dyskinesia, akathisia, parkinsonism, tremor/tremulousness
• Frequency not reported: Convulsion, grand mal/petit mal convulsion, seizures, dizziness, altered consciousness, extrapyramidal reactions, dystonia/acute dystonia/acute dystonic reactions, akinesia, tardive dyskinesia, autonomic dysfunction, headache, opisthotonos, hyperreflexia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, cerebral edema, EEG changes, altered cerebrospinal fluid proteins

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

• Common (1% to 10%): Blurred vision
• Frequency not reported: Oculogyric crisis, ocular changes, miosis, mydriasis, pigmentary retinopathy, lenticular and corneal deposits (notably in patients who received large doses)

Other

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sudden death/unexplained sudden death
• Frequency not reported: Neonatal drug withdrawal syndrome, hyperthermia, hyperpyrexia, mild fever, reversed epinephrine effect, intensification and prolongation of the action of atropine, heat, organophosphorous insecticides, and central nervous system depressants (e.g., opiates, analgesics, antihistamines, barbiturates, alcohol)

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Insomnia, agitation, anxiety, jitteriness, delirium, activation/reactivation of psychotic processes, catatonia/catatonic-like states

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Glycosuria

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Asthma, laryngeal edema, pulmonary embolism/fatal pulmonary embolism, nasal stuffiness/congestion, respiratory depression

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What drugs cause tardive dyskinesia?

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.

Medical Disclaimer