Digestive Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment Compazine (Prochlorperazine) Side Effects By Amber J. Tresca facebook twitter linkedin Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Amber J. Tresca Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS on March 25, 2021 facebook twitter linkedin Jay Yepuri, MD, MS, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and a practicing partner at Digestive Health Associates of Texas (DHAT). Learn about our Medical Review Board Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS on March 25, 2021 Print Compazine (prochlorperazine) is an antiemetic drug that may be used to treat nausea and vomiting. This drug is no longer sold under the trade name Compazine, but the name has become so well-known that many people still use it to refer to this drug. It is now sold under the generic names Compro and Procomp. It is not as commonly prescribed as it used to be because many gastroenterologists are now using newer anti-nausea medications. Hans Georg Merkel / LOOK / Getty Images Uses Stomach upset can be a side effect of many different medical conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and migraines, Compazine may also be prescribed to patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment, as nausea and vomiting are potential side effects of anti-cancer drugs. Compazine is also known as a typical antipsychotic drug. In higher doses than those used for the treatment of nausea, it may be used to treat the symptoms of some mental disorders, though this is no longer common. Some of the psychiatric conditions that Compazine may treat include schizophrenia and anxiety. Side Effects Compazine is also associated with certain side effects. One of the most concerning side effects of Compazine is the development of a muscle disorder known as Tardive dyskinesia, which can occur after long-term use. Compazine may also affect the pressure in the eye, and people who have glaucoma should always tell their physician before taking Compazine. This drug also carries a black box warning about using it in elderly patients who are experiencing psychosis and dementia; it is not approved for use in those patients because of a risk of death. Common Side Effects Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome: Mild constipation Decreased sweating Dizziness Drowsiness Dryness of mouth Nasal congestion Less Frequent or Rare Side Effects Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome: Menstrual irregularity Decreased sex drive Photosensitivity Swelling, pain or milk secretion in breasts Weight gain Side Effects to Report to a Doctor Common: Blurred vision Change in color vision Fainting Loss of balance Night blindness Restlessness Stiffness in legs and arms Trembling and shaking of hands and fingers Less frequent or rare: Abdominal or stomach pains Aching muscles and joints Agitation or excitement Chest pains Difficulty in:sleeping or bizarre dreams urinating Dark urine Fever and chills Hair loss Headaches Hot, dry skin or lack of sweating Rash or severely itchy skin Mild confusion Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea Prolonged, painful, inappropriate erection Redness of hands Shivering Seizures (convulsions) Severe constipation Skin or eye discoloration (tan, yellow, or blue-gray) Sore throat and fever Sores in mouth Sunburn (severe) Unusual:Bleeding or bruising Tiredness or weakness Muscle weakness Pain in joints Side Effects to Report to a Doctor Immediately More common: Difficulty in breathing, speaking, or swallowing Inability to move eyes Increased blinking or eyelid spasms Lip smacking or puckering Muscle spasms of face, neck, body, arms, or legs causing unusual postures or unusual facial expressions Puffing of cheeks Rapid or worm-like movements of tongue Sticking out of tongue Twitching Uncontrolled movement or twisting of mouth, neck, arms, legs, or trunk Rare: Slow or irregular heartbeat Recurrent fainting Less Common or Rare The following are signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome and should be checked out immediately. Confusion (severe) or coma Difficulty in speaking or swallowing Difficulty in breathing Drooling Fever Irregular (high or low) blood pressure Increased sweating Loss of bladder control Severe muscle stiffness Rapid heartbeat Severe trembling or shaking Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. This information is meant only as a guideline; always consult a physician or pharmacist for complete information about prescription medications. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! We're providing tips on how to take better care of your gut. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Din L, Preuss CV. Prochlorperazine. In: StatPearls [Internet]. 2019 Jan-. Patel KR, Cherian J, Gohil K, Atkinson D. Schizophrenia: overview and treatment options. P T. 2014;39(9):638–645. Vasan S, Padhy RK. Tardive Dyskinesia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. 2019 Jan-. Additional Reading DailyMed. "COMPAZINE- prochlorperazine suppository." National Institutes of Health. Aug 2013. PDR. "Prochlorperazine Edisylate." PDR.net. 2015.