Prochlorperazine side effects: what 27,539 FDA adverse event reports show
Drug class
Not stated in label
Who reports
27,539 reports · 76% serious · 3,806 with death outcome · 58% female
Used for
For control of severe nausea and vomiting. For the treatment of schizophrenia. Prochlorperazine is effective for the short-term treatment of generalized non-psychotic anxiety. However, prochlorperazine is not the first drug to be used in therapy for most patients with non-psychotic anxiety, because certain risks associated with its use are not shared by common alternative treatments (e.g., benzodiazepines).
What it is
DESCRIPTION Prochlorperazine, USP is a phenothiazine derivative, present in prochlorperazine tablets as the maleate. Prochlorperazine maleate is designated chemically as 2-chloro-10-[3-(4- met.
Boxed warning
Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of seventeen place.
Causality screen of the 40 strongest signals
What the badges mean
- Labeled adverse reaction The exact term appears in the label's warnings or adverse-reactions sections: a known, expected effect. The FAERS signal confirms the label rather than discovering anything.
- Labeled (related wording) The label describes this effect under different wording (e.g. 'neutropenia' for 'neutrophil count decreased'). Treated as known.
- Lab value / disease marker A laboratory result, investigation or disease-activity marker (antibody positive, CRP abnormal, swollen joint count) not described in the label. These usually mirror the monitored disease or testing protocol rather than a drug effect; not screened further.
- Not in label — unassessed Not found in the label text, not an artifact pattern. This is a genuine candidate for a formal causality assessment (Bradford Hill / WHO-UMC); it has NOT had one here.
Strongest disproportionality signals
Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only (and, for the 300 most-reported drugs, adjusted for age band), and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers. Each row also shows the PRR against the other drugs of the same FDA class, which removes most confounding by the condition being treated, and a calibrated p-value: on validation, known non-causes average an ROR of about 2, so significance is judged against that empirical null (✓ = p < 0.05 after calibration). 1,130 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.
| Reaction | Reports | PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p | EBGM EB05 · IC025 | Label screen | Serious-only & strata | Trial cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neurologic neglect syndrome | 169 | 330.1 275.5–395.4ROR 332.1 · calibrated p 5e-12 ✓ | 223.7 EB05 196.8 · IC025 +6.8 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=169 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 93% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Neovascularisation | 55 | 208.3 154.6–280.8ROR 208.7 · calibrated p 6e-10 ✓ | 154.6 EB05 123.2 · IC025 +5.6 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=55 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 91% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Carotid artery thrombosis | 177 | 199.3 168.9–235.2ROR 200.6 · calibrated p 5e-10 ✓ | 155.1 EB05 136.8 · IC025 +6.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=177 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 93% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Adjustment disorder | 168 | 112.5 95.7–132.2ROR 113.2 · calibrated p 5e-8 ✓ | 96.9 EB05 85.2 · IC025 +6.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=168 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 93% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Bacterial translocation | 34 | 91.4 64.0–130.5ROR 91.5 · calibrated p 5e-7 ✓ | 78.1 EB05 58.5 · IC025 +4.7 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=34 · 100% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Personality disorder | 171 | 52.8 45.2–61.6ROR 53.1 · calibrated p 1e-5 ✓ | 49.1 EB05 43.2 · IC025 +5.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=170 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 92% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Cholestasis of pregnancy | 24 | 42.2 27.9–63.6ROR 42.2 · calibrated p 8e-5 ✓ | 38.8 EB05 27.5 · IC025 +3.8 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=24 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) | not reported in cached trials |
| Klebsiella bacteraemia | 42 | 36.0 26.4–49.0ROR 36.0 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓ | 33.9 EB05 26.1 · IC025 +4.1 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=42 | not reported in cached trials |
| Streptococcal bacteraemia | 43 | 31.7 23.4–43.0ROR 31.7 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓ | 30.1 EB05 23.3 · IC025 +4.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=43 · 100% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Gangrene | 188 | 24.3 21.0–28.1ROR 24.5 · calibrated p 8e-4 ✓ | 23.5 EB05 20.8 · IC025 +4.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=188 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 93% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Febrile neutropenia | 1,929 | 22.8 21.8–23.8ROR 24.5 · calibrated p 8e-4 ✓ | 22.2 EB05 21.3 · IC025 +4.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 16.7 · 95% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Alpha haemolytic streptococcal infection | 27 | 22.7 15.5–33.3ROR 22.7 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓ | 21.8 EB05 15.7 · IC025 +3.4 3/3 methods agree | Labeled (related wording) related wording | serious n=27 · ♀ 31% (drug 58%) · 100% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Pseudomonal bacteraemia | 24 | 22.4 14.9–33.6ROR 22.4 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓ | 21.4 EB05 15.1 · IC025 +3.3 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=24 | not reported in cached trials |
| Urinary tract infection pseudomonal | 16 | 21.2 12.9–34.8ROR 21.2 · calibrated p 0.003 ✓ | 20.0 EB05 12.9 · IC025 +2.9 3/3 methods agree | Labeled (related wording) related wording | serious n=16 | not reported in cached trials |
| Biliary tract infection | 16 | 20.4 12.4–33.6ROR 20.5 · calibrated p 0.003 ✓ | 19.4 EB05 12.4 · IC025 +2.8 3/3 methods agree | Labeled (related wording) related wording | serious n=16 | not reported in cached trials |
| Escherichia bacteraemia | 60 | 20.2 15.7–26.2ROR 20.3 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓ | 19.6 EB05 15.8 · IC025 +3.7 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=60 · 92% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Sensory loss | 193 | 18.6 16.1–21.5ROR 18.7 · calibrated p 0.003 ✓ | 18.2 EB05 16.1 · IC025 +3.9 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 16.0 · ♀ 96% (drug 58%) · 91% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Arterial occlusive disease | 187 | 18.4 15.9–21.3ROR 18.5 · calibrated p 0.003 ✓ | 18.0 EB05 15.9 · IC025 +3.9 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 14.0 · ♀ 97% (drug 58%) · 91% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Enterocolitis infectious | 22 | 18.4 12.1–28.1ROR 18.4 · calibrated p 0.004 ✓ | 17.6 EB05 12.1 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=22 | not reported in cached trials |
| Foetal heart rate abnormal | 21 | 17.6 11.4–27.2ROR 17.6 · calibrated p 0.005 ✓ | 16.8 EB05 11.4 · IC025 +2.9 3/3 methods agree | Lab value / disease marker | serious n=21 · 100% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Hemiplegia | 177 | 16.5 14.2–19.1ROR 16.6 · calibrated p 0.005 ✓ | 16.1 EB05 14.2 · IC025 +3.7 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 12.3 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 92% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Lymphadenitis | 51 | 16.4 12.4–21.6ROR 16.4 · calibrated p 0.006 ✓ | 15.9 EB05 12.5 · IC025 +3.3 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=51 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) | not reported in cached trials |
| Extensor plantar response | 18 | 15.0 9.4–24.0ROR 15.0 · calibrated p 0.010 ✓ | 14.1 EB05 8.9 · IC025 +2.6 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=18 | not reported in cached trials |
| Hospice care | 181 | 14.2 12.3–16.5ROR 14.3 · calibrated p 0.009 ✓ | 13.9 EB05 12.3 · IC025 +3.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 7.4 | not reported in cached trials |
| Affect lability | 176 | 14.1 12.1–16.4ROR 14.2 · calibrated p 0.009 ✓ | 13.8 EB05 12.2 · IC025 +3.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 14.4 · ♀ 97% (drug 58%) · 90% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Mean platelet volume decreased | 15 | 14.0 8.4–23.3ROR 14.0 · calibrated p 0.014 ✓ | 12.7 EB05 7.5 · IC025 +2.4 3/3 methods agree | Lab value / disease marker | serious n=14 | not reported in cached trials |
| Motor dysfunction | 179 | 13.7 11.8–15.9ROR 13.8 · calibrated p 0.010 ✓ | 13.4 EB05 11.8 · IC025 +3.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 12.7 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 93% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Carbohydrate antigen 125 increased | 54 | 12.1 9.3–15.9ROR 12.1 · calibrated p 0.018 ✓ | 11.7 EB05 9.2 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | Lab value / disease marker | serious n=48 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 79% consumer | not reported in cached trials |
| Muscle spasticity | 194 | 12.1 10.5–13.9ROR 12.2 · calibrated p 0.016 ✓ | 11.8 EB05 10.5 · IC025 +3.3 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 12.8 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 92% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Blood magnesium decreased | 132 | 11.8 9.9–14.0ROR 11.9 · calibrated p 0.018 ✓ | 11.5 EB05 9.9 · IC025 +3.2 3/3 methods agree | Lab value / disease marker | serious PRR 9.7 · ♀ 85% (drug 58%) | not reported in cached trials |
| Paradoxical drug reaction | 56 | 11.8 9.0–15.3ROR 11.8 · calibrated p 0.020 ✓ | 11.3 EB05 8.9 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=56 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) | not reported in cached trials |
| Adenocarcinoma gastric | 14 | 11.7 6.9–19.9ROR 11.7 · calibrated p 0.027 ✓ | 10.2 EB05 5.9 · IC025 +2.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=14 | not reported in cached trials |
| Clonus | 41 | 11.5 8.5–15.7ROR 11.5 · calibrated p 0.022 ✓ | 11.0 EB05 8.3 · IC025 +2.8 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=41 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 100% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder | 16 | 11.5 7.0–18.8ROR 11.5 · calibrated p 0.028 ✓ | 10.1 EB05 6.1 · IC025 +2.3 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=16 | not reported in cached trials |
| Cancer pain | 38 | 11.4 8.3–15.7ROR 11.4 · calibrated p 0.023 ✓ | 10.8 EB05 8.0 · IC025 +2.8 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=35 | not reported in cached trials |
| Oculogyric crisis | 31 | 11.4 8.0–16.2ROR 11.4 · calibrated p 0.024 ✓ | 10.6 EB05 7.6 · IC025 +2.7 3/3 methods agree | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious n=31 · ♀ 79% (drug 58%) · 100% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Sinus congestion | 195 | 11.1 9.7–12.8ROR 11.2 · calibrated p 0.022 ✓ | 10.9 EB05 9.6 · IC025 +3.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=190 · ♀ 96% (drug 58%) | not reported in cached trials |
| Psychological trauma | 124 | 10.9 9.2–13.1ROR 11.0 · calibrated p 0.024 ✓ | 10.7 EB05 9.1 · IC025 +3.1 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 8.2 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) · 100% consumer | not reported in cached trials |
| Cytokine release syndrome | 263 | 10.6 9.4–12.0ROR 10.7 · calibrated p 0.026 ✓ | 10.4 EB05 9.4 · IC025 +3.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 8.0 · 97% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Lymph node pain | 25 | 10.3 7.0–15.3ROR 10.3 · calibrated p 0.035 ✓ | 9.4 EB05 6.4 · IC025 +2.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=23 · ♀ 100% (drug 58%) | not reported in cached trials |
Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)
✓ Trial adverse-event data found on ClinicalTrials.gov
Largest completed trials with posted results that list Prochlorperazine as a study intervention. The right-hand column of the signal table shows whether each FAERS term was also recorded in these trials, with a real denominator (0 of 40 signal terms matched).
- NCT03367572 — Treatment of Refractory Nausea and Vomiting in Patients With Breast Cancer (N=1363, PHASE3; 37 AE terms posted; arms: Group I (Netupitant/Palonosetron Hydroch; Group II (Net/Pal Hydro, Dexa, Prochlorp; Group III (Net/Pal Hydro, Dexa, Olanzapi)
Caveats: trial populations, doses and follow-up differ from the reporting population; AE terms are sponsor-coded and matched here by wording; absence from a trial list means the term was not reported above the sponsor's frequency threshold, not that it cannot occur.
Most frequently reported reactions
By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.
| Reaction | Reports | PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p | EBGM EB05 · IC025 | Label screen | Serious-only & strata | Trial cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 3,422 | 3.3 3.2–3.4ROR 3.6 · calibrated p 0.452 | 3.3 EB05 3.2 · IC025 +1.7 3/3 methods agree | Likely indication confounding term in indications; also in warnings | serious PRR 3.2 | NCT03367572: 1/91 (1.1%) on Prochlorperazine (serious AE) |
| Fatigue (tiredness) | 2,840 | 2.8 2.7–2.9ROR 3.0 · calibrated p 0.628 | 2.8 EB05 2.7 · IC025 +1.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 2.4 | NCT03367572: 2/109 (1.8%) control (serious AE) |
| Diarrhoea (diarrhea) | 2,404 | 2.9 2.7–3.0ROR 3.0 · calibrated p 0.617 | 2.8 EB05 2.7 · IC025 +1.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 2.5 | NCT03367572: 1/110 (0.9%) control |
| Vomiting | 1,939 | 3.2 3.0–3.3ROR 3.3 · calibrated p 0.531 | 3.1 EB05 3.0 · IC025 +1.6 3/3 methods agree | Labeled — boxed warning exact term | serious PRR 2.8 | not reported in cached trials |
| Febrile neutropenia | 1,929 | 22.8 21.8–23.8ROR 24.5 · calibrated p 8e-4 ✓ | 22.2 EB05 21.3 · IC025 +4.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 16.7 · 95% clinician | not reported in cached trials |
| Death | 1,752 | 1.5 1.5–1.6ROR 1.6 · calibrated p 0.698 | 1.5 EB05 1.5 · IC025 +0.6 | Outcome field, not a reaction boxed warning mentions mortality | serious PRR 1.2 | not reported in cached trials |
| Off label use (used outside approved label) | 1,400 | 1.2 1.2–1.3ROR 1.2 · calibrated p 0.468 | 1.2 EB05 1.2 · IC025 +0.2 | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 1.2 | not reported in cached trials |
| Asthenia (weakness) | 1,314 | 2.7 2.5–2.8ROR 2.7 · calibrated p 0.714 | 2.7 EB05 2.5 · IC025 +1.3 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 2.3 | not reported in cached trials |
| Pneumonia (lung infection) | 1,208 | 2.9 2.7–3.0ROR 2.9 · calibrated p 0.648 | 2.8 EB05 2.7 · IC025 +1.4 3/3 methods agree | Labeled — boxed warning exact term | serious PRR 2.2 | not reported in cached trials |
| Dyspnoea (shortness of breath) | 1,147 | 1.5 1.5–1.6ROR 1.6 · calibrated p 0.686 | 1.5 EB05 1.5 · IC025 +0.5 | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 1.4 | NCT03367572: 1/110 (0.9%) control (serious AE) |
| Pyrexia (fever) | 1,078 | 2.4 2.2–2.5ROR 2.4 · calibrated p 0.844 | 2.4 EB05 2.3 · IC025 +1.1 3/3 methods agree | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 2.1 | not reported in cached trials |
| Pain | 1,053 | 1.3 1.2–1.4ROR 1.3 · calibrated p 0.518 | 1.3 EB05 1.2 · IC025 +0.3 | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 1.3 | NCT03367572: 1/110 (0.9%) control (serious AE) |
| Decreased appetite (loss of appetite) | 1,049 | 3.5 3.3–3.7ROR 3.6 · calibrated p 0.472 | 3.4 EB05 3.3 · IC025 +1.7 3/3 methods agree | Labeled (related wording) related wording | serious PRR 2.8 | not reported in cached trials |
| Headache | 1,027 | 1.2 1.2–1.3ROR 1.3 · calibrated p 0.480 | 1.2 EB05 1.2 · IC025 +0.2 | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 1.5 | NCT03367572: 1/109 (0.9%) control (serious AE) |
| Dizziness | 1,009 | 1.5 1.5–1.6ROR 1.6 · calibrated p 0.684 | 1.5 EB05 1.5 · IC025 +0.5 | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 1.5 | NCT03367572: 1/91 (1.1%) on Prochlorperazine (serious AE) |
Unlabeled candidate signals
These flagged terms were not found in the FDA label text and do not match an artifact pattern. They are the pairs that would merit a structured assessment (temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across databases, trial or cohort evidence). The screen has not done that; string-matching misses label wording, and a strong PRR can still be stimulated reporting, co-medication, or the disease itself.
- Neurologic neglect syndrome — n=169, PRR 330.1
- Neovascularisation — n=55, PRR 208.3
- Carotid artery thrombosis — n=177, PRR 199.3
- Adjustment disorder — n=168, PRR 112.5
- Bacterial translocation — n=34, PRR 91.4
- Personality disorder — n=171, PRR 52.8
- Cholestasis of pregnancy — n=24, PRR 42.2
- Klebsiella bacteraemia — n=42, PRR 36.0
- Streptococcal bacteraemia — n=43, PRR 31.7
- Gangrene — n=188, PRR 24.3
Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.
Common questions
What are the most reported side effects of Prochlorperazine?
In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Prochlorperazine are nausea, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting, febrile neutropenia, asthenia. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.
Does Prochlorperazine have an FDA boxed warning?
Yes. The current FDA label carries a boxed warning: Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of seventeen place.
Do FAERS signals prove that Prochlorperazine causes these side effects?
No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.
Sources & methods
- FDA label via openFDA (set ID 383744db-ba57-478a-8041-2ecc26d3e1ec, effective 20221009; matched on
openfda.generic_name.exact:"PROCHLORPERAZINE") - Bayesian shrinkage measures computed offline over all 1,317,300 cached pairs: BCPNN information component (IC, with Norén closed-form IC025) and MGPS empirical-Bayes geometric mean (EBGM, EB05) with a two-component gamma prior fitted by maximum marginal likelihood (α₁=0.57, β₁=0.02, α₂=1.42, β₂=0.70, w=0.17); unstratified
- FAERS pair statistics from the OpenPV build of 2026-09-14 (openFDA
count=aggregation, fieldpatient.drug.openfda.generic_name.exact, 1,170 reaction terms, min 3 co-reports); PRR/ROR with 95% CI, chi-square with Yates correction - Serious-only and stratified counts (serious:1, patient.patientsex, primarysource.qualification) from openFDA count queries; serious-only PRR uses the drug serious report total and the term global serious total (N_serious=11,882,979); strata shown only when n ≥ 20
- Seriousness and sex counts from openFDA
count=serious,patient.patientsex,seriousnessdeath - ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 (query
PROCHLORPERAZINE, results-bearing studies sorted by enrollment)
Page generated 2026-10-14. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.