Antipsychotic drugs and thyroid

[Bearo]

My GP, fully aware that I’m hypothyroid, has prescribed Prochlorperazine Maleate 5mg tablets for dizziness and nausea. The prescription is x3 a day but I’ve found that just taking one when I actually feel dizzy and sick works very well - so I would probably take on average about 1x5mg a week.

But should I take them at all? The package leaflet says “take special care.....if you have under active thyroid “. I shall discuss this with the Pharmacist but thought I’d ask here first.

[RedApple Administrator]

Bearo, Dizziness and nausea are typical symptoms of under medication for hypothyroidism. If you're still in the process of titrating your thyroid medication towards reaching your optimum dose, then it's probably ok to take the Prochlorperazine Maleate to alleviate these symptoms in the short term.

Also, you don't necessarily need to take it three times a day. This is probably the max dose and you can just take it on an as needed basis. See here nhs.uk/medicines/prochlorpe...

I am not medically qualified, only speaking from experience, so do come back and update your post when you've spoken to the pharmacist

[Bearo in reply to RedApple]

Thank you. Yes, I’m still titrating Levo.I’ll be interested to find out why it’s not recommended for those with under active thyroid but I hope the pharmacist will know.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Bearo]

Yes, that is interesting. There is an over the counter version of this medicine called Buccastem, which is a lower dose than the one you've been prescribed. I found an old PIL for Buccastem that makes no mention at all of thyroid. boots.com/wcsstore/Extended...

However, more up to date info on the Patient.info website does say ' it is important that your doctor knows: If you have problems with your thyroid gland.'

patient.info/medicine/proch...

[Bearo in reply to RedApple]

Yes, I’ve got some Buccastem, that works well, too. Hadn’t noticed it’s a lower dose.