Thiethylperazine (Oral, Intramuscular, Rectal)

Generic name: thiethylperazine [ thye-eth-il-PER-a-zeen ]
Brand name: Torecan
Drug class: Phenothiazine antiemetics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 1, 2023.

Uses for thiethylperazine

Thiethylperazine is a phenothiazine medicine. It is used to treat nausea and vomiting.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using thiethylperazine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Children are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of phenothiazine medicines such as thiethylperazine. Certain side effects, such as muscle spasms of the face, neck, and back, tic-like or twitching movements, inability to move the eyes, twisting of the body, or weakness of the arms and legs, are more likely to occur in children, especially those with severe illness or dehydration.

Geriatric

Elderly patients are usually more sensitive to the effects of phenothiazine medicines such as thiethylperazine. Confusion; difficult or painful urination; dizziness; drowsiness; feeling faint; or dryness of mouth, nose, or throat may be more likely to occur in elderly patients. Also, nightmares or unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur in elderly patients. In addition, uncontrolled movements may be more likely to occur in elderly patients taking thiethylperazine.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Saquinavir

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alfentanil
• Alprazolam
• Amifampridine
• Apomorphine
• Benzhydrocodone
• Bromazepam
• Buprenorphine
• Bupropion
• Butorphanol
• Calcium Oxybate
• Cannabidiol
• Cannabis
• Cetirizine
• Clobazam
• Clonazepam
• Codeine
• Daridorexant
• Dexmedetomidine
• Dihydrocodeine
• Donepezil
• Doxylamine
• Duloxetine
• Epinephrine
• Esketamine
• Fentanyl
• Flibanserin
• Gabapentin
• Gabapentin Enacarbil
• Gatifloxacin
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Ibutilide
• Isradipine
• Ketamine
• Lacosamide
• Lemborexant
• Levocetirizine
• Levorphanol
• Lofexidine
• Loxapine
• Magnesium Oxybate
• Meperidine
• Methadone
• Metoclopramide
• Metrizamide
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Nalbuphine
• Octreotide
• Olanzapine
• Oxycodone
• Oxymorphone
• Pentamidine
• Pentazocine
• Periciazine
• Phenobarbital
• Porfimer
• Potassium Oxybate
• Pregabalin
• Primidone
• Procarbazine
• Remifentanil
• Remimazolam
• Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
• Sodium Oxybate
• Sufentanil
• Tapentadol
• Topiramate
• Tramadol
• Zolpidem
• Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Aminolevulinic Acid
• Belladonna
• Belladonna Alkaloids
• Betel Nut
• Evening Primrose
• Phenylalanine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse—This medicine, if taken together with alcohol, may lower the blood pressure and cause CNS depressant effects, such as severe drowsiness

• Asthma attack or
• Other lung diseases—Thiethylperazine may cause secretions to become thick so that it might be difficult to cough them up, for example, during an asthma attack

• Blood disease or
• Heart or blood vessel disease—This medicine may cause more serious conditions to develop

• Difficult urination or
• Enlarged prostate—This medicine may cause urinary problems to get worse

• Glaucoma—This medicine may cause an increase in inner eye pressure

• Liver disease—Thiethylperazine may accumulate in the body, increasing the chance of side effects, such as muscle spasms

• Parkinson's disease or
• Seizure disorders—The chance of thiethylperazine causing seizures or uncontrolled movements is greater when these conditions are present

Proper use of thiethylperazine

Thiethylperazine is used only to relieve or prevent nausea and vomiting. Use it only as directed. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

For patients taking this medicine by mouth:

• This medicine may be taken with food or a full glass (8 ounces) of water or milk to reduce stomach irritation.

For patients using the suppository form of this medicine :

• To insert suppository: First, remove foil wrapper and moisten the suppository with cold water. Lie down on your side and use your finger to push the suppository well up into the rectum. If the suppository is too soft to insert, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or run cold water over it before removing the foil wrapper.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For nausea and vomiting:
  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • Adults—10 milligrams (mg) one to three times a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults—10 mg one to three times a day, injected into a muscle.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For rectal dosage form (suppositories):
    • Adults—10 mg one to three times a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Precautions while using thiethylperazine

If you are going to be taking this medicine for a long time, your doctor should check your progress at regular visits, especially during the first few months of treatment with this medicine. This will allow your dosage to be changed if necessary to meet your needs.

Thiethylperazine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that cause you to feel drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine .

This medicine may cause some people to have blurred vision or to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert or able to see well.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If the problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

When using thiethylperazine on a regular basis, make sure your doctor knows if you are taking large amounts of aspirin or other salicylates at the same time (as for arthritis or rheumatism). Effects of too much aspirin, such as ringing in the ears, may be covered up by this medicine.

Thiethylperazine may cause dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat. For temporary relief of mouth dryness, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.

Side Effects of thiethylperazine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common or rare

• Abdominal or stomach pains
• aching muscles and joints
• blurred vision, change in color vision, or difficulty in seeing at night
• confusion (especially in the elderly)
• convulsions (seizures)
• difficulty in speaking or swallowing
• fast heartbeat
• fever and chills
• inability to move eyes
• lip smacking or puckering
• loss of balance control
• mask-like face
• muscle spasms (especially of face, neck, and back)
• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• nightmares (continuing)
• nosebleeds
• puffing of cheeks
• rapid or fine, worm-like movements of tongue
• shuffling walk
• skin itching (severe)
• sore throat and fever
• stiffness of arms or legs
• swelling of arms, hands, and face
• tic-like or twitching movements
• trembling and shaking of hands and fingers
• twisting movements of body
• uncontrolled chewing movements
• uncontrolled movements of arms or legs
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weakness of arms and legs
• yellow eyes or skin

Symptoms of overdose

• Confusion (severe)
• convulsions (seizures)
• dizziness (severe)
• drowsiness (severe)
• dry mouth (severe)
• hyperextension of neck and trunk
• inability to move eyes
• loss of consciousness
• spasms of face and neck
• stuffy nose
• troubled breathing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Dizziness
• drowsiness

Less common or rare

• Constipation
• dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position
• dryness of mouth, nose and throat
• fainting
• fever
• headache
• ringing or buzzing in ears
• skin rash

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Torecan

Pharmacologic Class: Phenothiazine

Chemical Class: Piperazine (class)

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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