Tardive Dyskinesia as a Result of Long-Term Prochlorperazine Use

Abstract

Prochlorperazine is a centrally acting dopamine receptor antagonist that is most commonly used for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. Like many dopamine antagonists, prochlorperazine has the ability to induce extrapyramidal reactions in susceptible patients. Rarely, however, have cases of tardive dyskinesia been caused by the long-term use of this agent. We report the case of a patient who used prochlorperazine for a prolonged period and, during hospital admission, was found to have a new movement disorder. Alternative antiemetics that do not pose a risk of movement disorders, such as ondansetron and granisetron, are readily available and are efficacious.