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How and when to take prochlorperazine - Brand names: Stemetil, Buccastem

If you or your child have been prescribed prochlorperazine, follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take it.

Dosage

The dose of prochlorperazine depends on what you're taking it for, but you'll usually take it 2 to 3 times a day.

The dose for children aged 1 to 17 years old is based on their weight.

How to take it

Prochlorperazine tablets come as:

  • standard tablets that you swallow whole with a drink of water
  • tablets that dissolve between your upper lip and gum (buccal tablets)

You can take standard tablets with or without food.

Buccal tablets work best if they're taken after meals. This gives them more time to dissolve.

How long to take it for

It's important to take prochlorperazine for the shortest possible time and at the lowest dose that works for you.

You can take it long term if you need it, but only do this if your doctor advises it.

If you take it for a long time and stop suddenly, it can cause withdrawal symptoms such as feeling or being sick and problems sleeping.

Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking prochlorperazine. They'll probably want to reduce your dose gradually to stop you having withdrawal symptoms.

If you forget to take it

For motion sickness, if you miss your dose take it as soon as you remember.

For anything else, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

Never take 2 doses at the same time.

If you take too much

Taking too much prochlorperazine can be dangerous.

Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:

  • you take more than the recommended dose of prochlorperazine

Go to 111 online or call 111. If you need advice for a child under the age of 5 years old, call 111.

If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.

Take the prochlorperazine packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.

Page last reviewed: 7 September 2023
Next review due: 7 September 2026