What's the story with Stemetil?

The below information is the best available to us as of October 2026. If this changes, we will update this page - please sign up to our emails for latest information we have. 

If you’ve been prescribed Stemetil and are having trouble getting it, read on… 

What’s going on?

We’ve been told that Stemetil (prochlorperazine) is being discontinued by its manufacturer and won’t be available in Ireland any more. 

Does this apply to all forms of prochlorperazine? 

This applies to both the tablets and the injectable form used in hospitals. However: 

• Other brands of prochlorperazine tablets may be available in pharmacies, but if so, they will be unlicensed (meaning not on the Drug Payment Scheme, and more expensive). We’re not sure how expensive yet (please email us current costs if you are a patient or pharmacist!).

• However some patients have told us they have got generic prochlorperazine (manufacturer: Bristol Labs) on the DPS. 

• Buccastem (pills that melt in your cheek) is not affected by this, but has always been unlicensed and therefore not on the Drugs Payment Scheme either. 

What can I do? For patients

• You can try contacting different pharmacies to see what they have left in stock. Ask your pharmacist about generic prochlorperazine.

• If you can afford the more expensive unlicensed versions, and your pharmacy can source them, that is an option too. 

• Ask your GP/doctor for an alternative and how to transition between meds. 

• If you have already tried (or already take) Cariban, the most common alternatives to Stemetil are Valoid (cyclizine) and Phenergan (promethazine). Ondansetron can also be prescribed. More info on HG treatments here. 

• Please do not stop taking Stemetil, or take less, without talking to your doctor or pharmacist (more on weaning meds here).

What can I do? For healthcare providers

• If you’re a prescriber, make sure your HG patients have at least one alternative medication on their prescription and know how to take it. 

• If you’re not as familiar with other HG treatments, check out treatment guidelines on our website here. 

• If you’re a pharmacist, please email us to let us know how you’re getting on with sourcing alternatives and likely costs. 

• We don’t have any information on whether another manufacturer will apply for reimbursement, so we have to assume that this won’t change in the near future.