Stemetil

What is it?

An antipsychotic and anticonvulsant and phenothiazine group III drug, available as cream tablets in 2 strenghts containing 5mg and 25mg (scored) of proclalorperazine maleate, all marked with strength and name. Also, STEMETIL SYRUP containing 5mg of prochlorperazine mesylate per 5ml. Also, STEMETIL EFF, effervescent granules in sachets for reconstitution in water containing 5mg of prochlorperazine mesylate. Also, STEMETIL SUPPOSITORIES, available in strengths of 5mg and 25mg containing prochlorperazine. Also, STEMETIL INJECTION available as a solution in ampoules for injection containing 1.25% of prochlorperazine mesylate.

Medical Uses

Short-term treatment of anxiety, psychoses - acute and chronic, particularly schizophrenia - vomiting and nausea, migraine, vertigo resulting from Meniere's disease (an inner ear disorder accompanied by ringing in the ears and progressive deafness), other disorders involving labyrinth of inner ear.

Dosage

Adults, oral preparations, anxiety, 15 to 25mg each day as divided doses to daily maximum of 40mg. Schizophrenia, 75 to 100mg each day, all in divided doses; Also, consult manufacturer's literature. Suppositories, anxiety and schizophrenia, 25mg 2 or 3 times each day, then oral preparations. Injection, anxiety and schizophrenia, 12.5 to 25mg 2 or 3 times each day by deep intramuscular injection then oral preparations. Vertigo, adults, oral preparations, 5mg 3 times each day to a maximum of 30mg daily. Nausea, vomiting, 20mg as single dose then 10mg after 2 hours if needed. Prevention, 5 to 10mg 2 or 3 times each day. Suppositories, adults, for vertigo, nausea and vomiting, 25mg as single dose then oral preparations after 6 hours, if needed. Injection, adults, for vertigo, nausea, vomiting, 12.5mg by deep intramuscular injection, then oral preparations if needed. Children, use syrup for nausea, vomiting only, over 10kg in weight, 0.25mg per kg of bodyweight 2 or 3 times each day.

Special Care

Breastfeeding, elderly, heart disease or disease of heart blood vessels, prolonged vomiting which is not diagnosed. Patients should be warned that dexterity and judgement may be affected.

Avoid Use

Pregnancy, children under 10kg body weight, Parkinsonism, epilepsy, depressed bone marrow function, liver or kidney disorders, coma. Stemetil EEF in patients with phenylketonuria due to presence of aspartame.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Alcohol, anti- diabetics, desferrioxamine, CNS depressants, antihypertensives, anticholinergics, analgesics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants.

Known Side Effects

Anticholinergic effects, disturbance of CNS, endocrine changes, altered ECG, low blood pressure on rising upright (with injection), blood disorders, jaundice. At low doses there may rarely be extrapyratnidal side effects and allergic responses. Judgement and performance of skilled tasks may be impaired.