Health Centres - Buccastem (prochlorperazine)
How does it work?
Buccastem tablets contain the active ingredient prochlorperazine, which is a type of medicine called a phenothiazine. (NB. Prochlorperazine is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Prochlorperazine has two quite different uses. In higher doses it is used in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses. In lower doses it is used in the management of nausea and vomiting.
The Buccastem brand of prochlorperazine contains a low dose of prochlorperazine so is only used to treat nausea and vomiting. The prochlorperazine works by blocking dopamine receptors in an area of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting.
Vomiting is controlled by an area of the brain called the vomiting centre. The vomiting centre is responsible for causing feelings of sickness (nausea) and for the vomiting reflex. It is activated when it receives nerve messages from another area of the brain called the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and when it receives nerve messages from the gut.
Prochlorperazine controls nausea and vomiting by blocking dopamine receptors found in the CTZ. This stops the CTZ from sending the messages to the vomiting centre that would otherwise cause nausea and vomiting.
Buccastem tablets should not be swallowed like normal tablets. Instead they should be be placed high up along the top gum, under the upper lip on either side of your mouth. If you wear dentures, the tablet may be placed in any comfortable position between your lip and gum. The tablet will soften and stick to your gum, taking between one and two hours to dissolve completely. The medicine is absorbed into your bloodstream through the rich supply of blood vessels in this area. You shouldn't move the tablet about the mouth with your tongue as this will cause it to dissolve more quickly.
What is it used for?
- Treatment and prevention of nausea and vomiting due to any cause, including migraine
- Relieving nausea, vomiting and attacks of dizziness or spinning sensations (vertigo) associated with Meniere's disease and other inner ear disorders.
Warning!
- This medicine can occasionally cause your blood pressure to drop when you move from a lying down or sitting position to sitting or standing, especially when you first start taking the medicine. This may make you feel dizzy or unsteady. To avoid this try getting up slowly. If you do feel dizzy, sit or lie down until the symptoms pass.
- This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight than it usually is, so you should avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight or sunlamps until you know how your skin reacts.
- This medicine may rarely cause a decrease in the normal amounts of white blood cells in the blood. For this reason, you should consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking this medicine, as they may indicate a problem with your blood cells: unexplained sore throat, mouth ulcers, infections, high temperature (fever) or general illness.
- Stop taking this medicine and consult your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms while taking this medicine, as they may be caused by a rare but serious side effect of this type of medicine, called the neuroleptic malignant syndrome: high temperature (fever), pale complexion, sweating, muscle stiffness, fast heartbeat and decreased consciousness.
Use with caution in
- Elderly people
- Dehydration, eg due to severe diarrhoea or vomiting, or treatment with diuretic medicines.
Not to be used in
- Children under 12 years of age
- Decreased liver function
- Disturbance in the normal number of blood cells in the blood
-
Epilepsy
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Parkinson's disease
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Enlarged prostate gland
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Closed angle glaucoma
- Breastfeeding.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been established. It should not be used in pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine passes into breast milk. It should not be used in women who are breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Label warnings
- This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.
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