Source: Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) Revision Year: 2019 Publisher: Mercury Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Capital House, 85 King William Street, London, EC4N 7BL, UK
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
Should not be used in patients who are known to be hypersensitive to the active ingredient or to any of the other ingredients.
The use of Prochlorperazine injection is contraindicated in children as it has been associated with dystonic reactions after the cumulative dose of 0.5mg/kg.
Prochlorperazine should be avoided in patients with liver or renal dysfunction, Parkinson’s disease, hypothyroidism, cardiac failure, phaeochromocytoma, myasthenia gravis or prostate hypertrophy. It should also be avoided in patients hypersensitive to phenothiazines or with a history of narrow angle glaucoma or agranulocytosis.
Close monitoring is required in patients with epilepsy or a history of seizures, as phenothiazines may lower the seizure threshold.
As agranulocytosis has been reported, regular monitoring of the complete blood count is recommended. The occurrence of unexplained infections or fever may be evidence of blood dyscrasia (see section 4.8), and requires immediate haematological investigation.
It is imperative that treatment be discontinued in the event of unexplained fever, as this may be a sign of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (pallor, hyperthermia, autonomic dysfunction, altered consciousness, muscle rigidity). Signs of autonomic dysfunction, such as sweating and arterial instability, may precede the onset of hyperthermia and serve as early warning signs. Although neuroleptic malignant syndrome may be idiosyncratic in origin, dehydration and organic brain disease are predisposing factors.
Acute withdrawal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and insomnia, have very rarely been reported following the abrupt cessation of high doses of neuroleptics. Relapse may also occur, and the emergence of extrapyramidal reactions has been reported. Therefore, gradual withdrawal is advisable.
In schizophrenia, the response to neuroleptic treatment may be delayed. If treatment is withdrawn, the recurrence of symptoms may not become apparent for some time.
Neuroleptic phenothiazines may potentiate QT interval prolongation which increases the risk of onset of serious ventricular arrhythmias of the torsade de pointes type, which is potentially fatal (sudden death). QT prolongation is exacerbated, in particular, in the presence of bradycardia, hypokalaemia, and congenital or acquired (i.e. drug induced) QT prolongation. The risk-benefit should be fully assessed before prochlorperazine treatment is commenced. If the clinical situation permits, medical and laboratory evaluations (e.g. biochemical status and ECG) should be performed to rule out possible risk factors (e.g. cardiac disease; family history of QT prolongation; metabolic abnormalities such as hypokalaemia, hypocalcaemia or hypomagnesaemia; starvation; alcohol abuse; concomitant therapy with other drugs known to prolong the QT interval) before initiating treatment with Prochlorperazine Injection and during the initial phase of treatment, or as deemed necessary during the treatment (see also sections 4.5 and 4.8).
Avoid concomitant treatment with other neuroleptics (see section 4.5).
In randomised clinical trials versus placebo performed in a population with elderly patients with dementia and treated with certain atypical antipsychotic drugs, a 3-fold increase of the risk of cerebrovascular events has been observed. The mechanism of such risk increase is not known. An increase in the risk with other antipsychotic drugs or other populations of patients cannot be excluded. Prochlorperazine Injection should be used with caution with stroke risk factors.
As with all antipsychotic drugs, Prochlorperazine Injection should not be used alone where depression is predominant. However, it may be combined with antidepressant therapy to treat those conditions in which depression and psychosis coexist.
Because of the risk of photosensitisation, patients should be advised to avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
To prevent skin sensitisation in those frequently handling preparations of phenothiazines, the greatest care must be taken to avoid contact of the drug with the skin (see section 4.8).
Postural hypotension with tachycardia as well as local pain or nodule formulation may occur after I.M. administration.
It should be used with caution in the elderly, particularly during very hot or very cold weather because of the risk of hyper-, hypothermia.
The elderly are particularly susceptible to postural hypotension.
Prochlorperazine Injection should be used cautiously in the elderly owing to their susceptibility to drugs acting on the central nervous system and a lower initial dosage is recommended. There is an increased risk of drug-induced Parkinsonism in the elderly particularly after prolonged use. Care should also be taken not to confuse the adverse effects of Prochlorperazine Injection, e.g. orthostatic hypotension, with the effects due to the underlying disorder.
Data from two large observational studies showed that elderly people with dementia who are treated with antipsychotics are at a small increased risk of death compared with those who are not treated. There are insufficient data to give a firm estimate of the precise magnitude of the risk and the cause of the increased risk is not known.
Prochlorperazine is not licensed for the treatment of dementia-related behavioural disturbances.
Cases of venous thromboembolism (VTE) have been reported with antipsychotic drugs. Since patients treated with antipsychotics often present with acquired risk factors for VTE, all possible risk factors for VTE should be identified before and during treatment with Prochlorperazine and preventive measures undertaken.
Hyperglycaemia or intolerance to glucose had been reported in patients treated with antipsychotic phenothiazines. Patients with an established diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or with risk factors for the development of diabetes, who are started on Prochlorperazine Injection, should get appropriate glycaemic monitoring during treatment (see section 4.8).
Adrenaline must not be used in patients overdosed with prochlorperazine.
The CNS depressant actions of these agents may be potentiated by alcohol, barbiturates and other sedatives. Respiratory depression may occur. The hypotensive effect of most antihypertensive drugs especially alpha adrenoreceptor blocking agents may be exaggerated by neuroleptics.
Anticholinergic drugs may decrease the antipsychotic effects of neuroleptics.
The mild anticholinergic effect of neuroleptics may be enhanced by other anticholinergic drugs possibly leading to constipation, heat stroke, etc.
Some drugs interfere with absorption of neuroleptic agents: antacids, antiparkinson drugs and lithium.
Where treatment for neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms is required, anticholinergic antiparkinsonian agents should be used in preference to levodopa, since neuroleptics antagonise the antiparkinsonian action of dopaminergics.
High doses of neuroleptics reduce the response to hypoglycaemic agents, the dosage of which might have to be increased.
Phenothiazine neuroleptics may oppose the action of some drugs, including amfetamine, levodopa, clonidine, guanethidine and adrenaline.
Increases or decreases in the plasma concentrations of a number of drugs, e.g. propranolol, phenobarbital have been observed but were not of clinical significance.
Simultaneous administration of desferrioxamine and prochlorperazine has been observed to induce a transient metabolic encephalopathy characterised by loss of consciousness for 48-72 hours.
There is an increased risk of arrhythmias when antipsychotics are used with concomitant QT prolonging drugs (including certain antiarrhythmics, antidepressants and other antipsychotics) and drugs causing electrolyte imbalance.
There is an increased risk of agranulocytosis when neuroleptics are used concurrently with drugs with myelosuppressive potential, such as carbamazepine or certain antibiotics and cytotoxics.
In patients treated concurrently with neuroleptics and lithium, there have been rare reports of neurotoxicity.
There is inadequate evidence of safety in pregnancy. There is evidence of harmful effects in animals. Prochlorperazine should be avoided in pregnancy unless the physician considers it essential. Neuroleptics may occasionally prolong labour and at such a time it should be withheld until the cervix is dilated 3-4cm.
Neonates exposed to antipsychotics (including Prochlorperazine) during the third trimester of pregnancy are at risk of adverse reactions including extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms that may vary in severity and duration following delivery. There have been reports of agitation, hypertonia, hypotonia, tremor, somnolence, respiratory distress, or feeding disorder. Consequently, newborns should be monitored carefully.
Phenothiazines may be excreted in milk and breast feeding should be stopped during treatment.
Intolerance to glucose, hyperglycaemia (see section 4.4).
Patients should be warned about drowsiness during the early days of treatment and advised not to drive or operate machinery if affected.
Generally, adverse reactions occur at a low frequency; the most common reported adverse reactions are nervous system disorders.
Adverse effects:
Not known: A mild leukopenia occurs in up to 30% of patients on prolonged high dosage. Agranulocytosis may occur rarely; it is not dose related (see section 4.4).
Not known: Hyperprolactinaemia which may result in galactorrhoea, gynaecomastia; amenorrhoea; impotence
Not known: Acute dystonia or dyskinesias, usually transitory are commoner in children and young adults, and usually occur within the first 4 days of treatment or after dosage increases. Akathisia characteristically occurs after large initial doses. Parkinsonism is commoner in adults and the elderly. It usually develops after weeks or months of treatment. One or more of the following may be seen: tremor, rigidity, akinesia or other features of Parkinsonism. Commonly just tremor. Tardive dyskinesia: If this occurs, it is usually, but not necessarily, after prolonged or high dosage. It can even occur after treatment has been stopped. Dosage should therefore be kept low whenever possible. Insomnia and agitation may occur.
Not known: Ocular changes and the development of a metallic greyish-mauve coloration of exposed skin have been noted in some individuals mainly females, who have received chlorpromazine continuously for long periods (four to eight years). This could happen with prochlorperazine.
Not known: ECG changes include QT prolongation (as with other neuroleptics), ST depression, U-Wave and T-Wave changes. Cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular arrhythmias and atrial arrhythmias, A-V block, ventricular tachycardia, which may result in ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest have been reported during neuroleptic phenothiazine therapy, possibly related to dosage. Preexisting cardiac disease, old age, hypokalaemia and concurrent tricyclic antidepressants may predispose.
There have been isolated reports of sudden death, with possible causes of cardiac origin (see section 4.4, above), as well as cases of unexplained sudden death, in patients receiving neuroleptic phenothiazines.
Not known: Hypotension, usually postural, commonly occurs. Elderly or volume depleted subjects are particularly susceptible; it is more likely to occur after intramuscular injection. Cases of venous thromboembolism, including cases of pulmonary embolism and cases of deep vein thrombosis have been reported with antipsychotic drugs.
Not known: dry mouth may occur.
Not known: Respiratory depression is possible in susceptible patients. Nasal stuffiness may occur.
Not known: Jaundice, usually transient, occurs in a very small percentage of patients taking neuroleptics. A premonitory sign may be sudden onset of fever after one to three weeks of treatment followed by the development of jaundice. Neuroleptic jaundice has the biochemical and other characteristics of obstructive jaundice and is associated with obstruction of the canaliculi by bile thrombi; the frequent presence of an accompanying eosinophilia indicates the allergic nature of this phenomenon. Treatment should be discontinued if jaundice develops (see section 4.4).
Not known: Contact skin sensitisation is a serious but rare complication in those frequently handling preparations of certain phenothiazines (see section 4.4); Skin rashes of various kinds may also be seen in patients treated with the drug. Patients on high dosage should be warned that they may develop photosensitivity in sunny weather and should avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
Not known: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic dysfunction and altered consciousness) may occur with any neuroleptic (see section 4.4).
Intolerance to glucose, hyperglycaemia (see section 4.4).
Not known: Pregnancy, puerperium and perinatal conditions, Drug withdrawal syndrome neonatal (see 4.6).
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
An immediate precipitate was reported to have occurred when prochlorperazine mesylate 100mg per litre was mixed with aminophylline 1g per litre or with ampicillin sodium 2g per litre in glucose injection and sodium chloride injection, or with ethamivan 2g per litre in sodium chloride injection. An immediate precipitate also occurred with phenobarbitone sodium 800mg per litre, sulphadiazine sodium 4g per litre, or sulphadimide sodium 4g per litre in sodium chloride injection, but when they were mixed in glucose injection, a haze developed over 3 hours. A haze developed over 3 hours when prochlorperazine mesylate was mixed with amphotericin 200mg per litre or methohexitone sodium 2g per litre in glucose injection, or with benzylpenicillin 6g per litre, chloramphenicol 4g per litre, or chlorothiazide 2g per litre in sodium chloride injection.
Loss of clarity was reported to have occurred when solutions of prochlorperazine were mixed with those of calcium gluconate, chlorothiazide sodium, heparin, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, nitrofurantoin sodium, pentobarbitone sodium, and thiopentone sodium.
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