Prochlorperazine is an oral drug that is a phenothiazine derivative, used in the treatment of schizophrenia and anxiety and to relieve severe nausea and vomiting. Dopamine-antagonizing medications such as prochlorperazine are though to improve psychotic symptoms and states that are caused by an over-production of dopamine, such as schizophrenia, which is theorized to be caused by a hyperdopaminergic state within the limbic system of the brain. Use of the first-generation antipsychotics (including prochlorperazine) is considered effective for the management of the "positive" symptoms of schizophrenia including hallucinations, hearing voices, aggression/hostility, disorganized speech, and psychomotor agitation. However, this class of drugs is also limited by the development of movement disorders induced by dopamine-blockade such as drug-induced parkinsonism, akathisia, dystonia, tardive dyskinesia, as well as other side effects including sedation, weight gain, and prolactin changes. It is used for the treatment of severe nausea and vomiting. It mainly works by depressing the chemoreceptor trigger zone and blocking D2 dopamine receptors in the brain. It was shown to also block histaminergic, cholinergic and noradrenergic receptors.

Prochlorperazine Pathway (New) References