Phenothiazines and related drugs (Formulary)

TAM (Treatments and Medicines) NHS Highland
NHS Highland

PROCHLORPERAZINE

Therapy notes

  • Avoid prochlorperazine in balance disturbances in older people as it may often lead to drug-induced Parkinson’s disease, postural hypotension and mental confusion.
  • Prochlorperazine injection is considered inappropriate for patients with reduced consciousness due to its tendency to deepen any state of sedation.

Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Tablets 5mg

Dosage:

Nausea and vomiting: by mouth, tablets and syrup, acute attack 20mg initially then 10mg after 2 hours; prevention 5 to 10mg 2 to 3 times daily.

Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Buccal tabletsOTC 3mg

Dosage:

Nausea and vomiting: by mouth, buccal tablets, 3 to 6mg twice daily, placed high between upper lip and gum and left to dissolve.

Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Injection 12·5mg/mL

Dosage:

Nausea and vomiting: by deep intramuscular injection, , 12·5mg when required followed, if necessary, after 6 hours by an oral dose.

LEVOMEPROMAZINE

Therapy notes

  • Levomepromazine carries a risk of postural hypotension; avoid in ambulant patients over fifty years, unless risk of hypotensive reaction has been assessed.
  • 6mg tablets (unlicensed) are also used within Palliative Care.  For the sublingual use of low-dose levomepromazine seek specialist Palliative Care advice. Not all preparations are able to be used sublingually.

Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Tablets 25mg

Dosage:

In palliative care: by mouth, one quarter to one half of a 25mg tablet daily off-label, refer to Antiemetics used in palliative care.   

Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Injection 25mg/mL

DROPERIDOL

Therapy notes

Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Injection 2·5mg/mL (s)

Editorial Information

Document Id: F083