Stemetil Tablet: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects in Pakistan

Stemetil Tablet (Prochlorperazine) Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Price in Pakistan

1. Quick Info (Mukhtasir Maloomat)

2. What is Stemetil? (Stemetil kya hai)

Stemetil (Prochlorperazine) is a prescription medicine commonly used in Pakistan for nausea, vomiting, vertigo (dizziness), and migraine-associated nausea. It is a Phenothiazine class medicine that suppresses the vomiting centre (chemoreceptor trigger zone — CTZ) by blocking dopamine receptors. At higher doses it also has an antipsychotic effect.

3. Uses (Fayde / Kis kaam aati hai)

• Nausea and vomiting (most common use)
• Vertigo and labyrinthine disorders (dizziness — vestibular dysfunction)
• Migraine-associated nausea
• Short-term anxiety (adjunct — doctor supervised)
• Schizophrenia / psychosis (25mg dosing — specialist use; less commonly used now)

4. Who Should Take (Kis ko leni chahiye)

• Adults with nausea/vomiting requiring short-term antiemetic therapy
• Patients with vestibular vertigo diagnosed by a doctor
• Patients with migraine nausea not controlled by paracetamol/ibuprofen alone
• Patients under specialist supervision for anxiety or psychosis (higher doses)

5. When NOT to Take (Kab nahi leni chahiye)

• Parkinson's disease — dopamine blockade makes symptoms even worse
• Motion sickness — scopolamine or cinnarizine are more appropriate
• Children under 2 years / low body weight children
• Allergy to prochlorperazine or phenothiazines
• Known QT prolongation or cardiac arrhythmia (without cardiac review)
• Bone marrow depression
• Pheochromocytoma

6. Dosage (Kitni leni hai)

• 5mg–10mg 2–3 times daily (short-term use); as per doctor's instructions

• 5mg 3 times daily initially; do not use long-term without specialist review

• 25mg twice daily — only on specialist prescription

• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If the next dose is close, skip the missed dose. Never take a double dose.

7. How to Take (Kaise leni hai)

• As directed by your doctor — tablets should be swallowed with water
• Prescribed for short-term use
• Do not drive before assessing the effects — drowsiness can occur

8. Best Time (Kab leni chahiye)

• Depends on doctor's instructions — usually some time before or after meals
• A nighttime dose is better tolerated due to drowsiness (if a single daily dose)

9. Empty Stomach or After Food (Khali pait ya khane ke baad)

• Better taken after food — reduces stomach irritation. If your doctor has given different instructions, follow those.

10. Warnings (Ihtiyat)

• Particularly in young patients, neck stiffness, upward rolling of the eyes (oculogyric crisis), or jaw tightening can occur — this looks frightening but is treatable. Go to the emergency room immediately — it resolves with IM anticholinergic (biperiden).

• Long-term use can cause tardive dyskinesia (uncontrolled repetitive movements — potentially permanent). Use only short-term unless your doctor has indicated otherwise.

• Absolutely avoid Prochlorperazine in Parkinson's disease — dopamine blockade significantly worsens the disease.

• If you are taking other QT-prolonging drugs, be sure to inform your doctor — cardiac monitoring may be necessary.

• In the elderly there is a higher risk of falls, aspiration pneumonia, and drug-induced Parkinsonism — careful monitoring is essential.

11. Precautions (Ahm ehtiyaat)

• Stemetil can cause drowsiness and dizziness — do not drive at all until the effects have been assessed

• Avoid alcohol completely — sedation increases considerably

• Photosensitivity can occur — use sunscreen and reduce time in direct sunlight

• Store below 30°C in a cool, dry place
• Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture
• Keep well out of the reach of children

12. Side Effects (Nuksanat)

• Sedation / drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Blurred vision (anticholinergic)
• Hypotension (low blood pressure — dizziness)
• Extrapyramidal effects — akathisia (restlessness), dystonia
• Photosensitivity
• Weight gain

• Acute dystonia — oculogyric crisis (eyes rolling upward), torticollis (neck stiffening) — emergency immediately
• Tardive dyskinesia — uncontrolled movements from long-term use
• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) — fever, muscle rigidity, confusion — LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY
• QT prolongation — irregular heart rhythm
• Agranulocytosis — increased infection risk

13. Drug Interactions (Dawaon ke sath reaction)

• CNS depressants / alcohol — additive sedation; potentially dangerous
• QT-prolonging drugs (antipsychotics, antiarrhythmics) — additive risk; cardiac monitoring
• Anticholinergics — additive dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation
• Antihypertensives — additive blood pressure lowering
• Lithium — increased NMS risk; close monitoring
• Levodopa (Parkinson's medicine) — mutual antagonism — avoid these two together
• Adrenaline (epinephrine) — prochlorperazine can reverse the pressor effect of adrenaline — paradoxical hypotension

14. When to See Doctor (Kab doctor ke paas jayein)

• Neck stiffening, eyes rolling upward, jaw tightening (acute dystonia) — GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IMMEDIATELY
• High fever + muscle rigidity + confusion (NMS) — LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY
• Irregular heart rhythm (QT prolongation)
• Uncontrolled repetitive movements — tardive dyskinesia — inform your doctor and have the dose reviewed
• Severe hypotension — fainting or near-syncope
• Abnormalities in blood tests

15. Alternatives (Dusri Dawaein)

16. Price in Pakistan (Price kitni hai)

Price varies by pharmacy and city. Check the current price at licensed online pharmacies (dawaai.pk, sehat.com.pk).

17. FAQs (Aksar poochay jane walay sawalat)

Q: Stemetil kis kaam aata hai?

A: Stemetil (Prochlorperazine) is prescribed in Pakistan for nausea, vomiting, vertigo (dizziness), and migraine-associated nausea. It is a prescription medicine — do not take without a doctor's advice.

Q: Prochlorperazine ke side effects kya hain?

A: Common side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, and dizziness. Serious effects include neck stiffness or eyes rolling upward (acute dystonia) — if this occurs, go to the emergency room immediately.

Q: Prochlorperazine se chakkar kaise door hote hain?

A: Prochlorperazine suppresses vestibular function and blocks the vomiting centre through dopamine receptor antagonism — this provides relief from dizziness and related nausea.

Q: Stemetil price Pakistan mein kya hai?

A: Stemetil price in Pakistan varies by pharmacy and pack size. For the updated price, confirm with your local pharmacy or a licensed online pharmacy.

Q: Prochlorperazine chakkar ki dawa hai?

A: Yes — Prochlorperazine is effective for vestibular vertigo (labyrinthine disorders) but betahistine is more preferred for Meniere's disease. Have your diagnosis confirmed by a doctor.

18. Medical Review (Medical jaiza)

Compiled by the PakVita Editorial Team · AI-assisted drafting with editorial review · Sourced from DRAP, WHO, BNF · Last updated: 2026-06-17

19. Disclaimer (Zaroori tanbeeh)

The information on this page is for awareness only. It is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. PakVita is not responsible for any harm.