Perphenazine Uses for Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea (feeling "queasy") and vomiting ("throwing up") are common symptoms. Causes of nausea and vomiting vary widely, from less serious causes (such as motion sickness or the "
stomach flu") to more serious causes (such as a head injury or
heart attack). Many medications (especially chemotherapy medications) can cause nausea and vomiting.
While mild nausea or vomiting usually does not require treatment, severe nausea and vomiting can be a serious problem. It can cause dehydration and can decrease a person's quality of life.
Perphenazine is approved to treat severe nausea and vomiting.
Perphenazine belongs to a group of medications called typical (or first-generation)
antipsychotic medications. In particular, it is part of a group of medications called phenothiazines. It is not entirely known how the drug works. However, it is known that perphenazine blocks or lessens the effects of dopamine, a chemical in the brain, that may be elevated in people with
schizophrenia. Perphenazine, however, is not a cure for schizophrenia; it only helps to control symptoms
(see Symptoms of Schizophrenia).
Since dopamine can activate the part of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting, perphenazine can treat severe nausea and vomiting by lessening the effects of dopamine.
Perphenazine Uses in Children
Perphenazine is not approved to treat schizophrenia or nausea and vomiting in children. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children.
Off-Label Perphenazine Uses
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend perphenazine for something other than the conditions listed in this article. This is called an "
off-label" use. Some examples of off-label perphenazine uses include treatment for the following conditions:
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