Buccastem M 3mg Buccal Tablets 16

What is Buccastem M 3mg Buccal Tablets 16?

Buccastem M is a small tablet that you do not swallow. You tuck it high up between your top lip and gum, where it softens and dissolves over an hour or two and the medicine, prochlorperazine, is absorbed straight through the lining of the mouth. It is licensed for the nausea and vomiting of migraine in adults aged 18 and over who have already had migraine diagnosed by a doctor, and is meant for short courses of no more than two days.

How does it help?

Prochlorperazine belongs to the phenothiazine family. It blocks dopamine receptors in the part of the brainstem that triggers the vomiting reflex (the chemoreceptor trigger zone), which dampens the feeling of sickness and the urge to vomit. Because the tablet is absorbed through the mouth rather than the stomach, it can still work when swallowing a tablet would bring on vomiting, and it bypasses the slowed stomach emptying that often accompanies a migraine. The usual dose is one or two tablets twice a day, for a maximum of two days.

Key benefits

• Absorbed through the gum, so it does not need to be swallowed or kept down
• Targets the nausea and vomiting of a migraine attack rather than the headache itself
• Simple dosing: one or two tablets twice a day, for up to two days
• Available from the pharmacy without a prescription for adults with diagnosed migraine, after a pharmacist check

Who should take care?

Always read the patient information leaflet before use. For adults 18 and over only, and only if a doctor has previously diagnosed your migraine, because it can mask the signs of other illnesses that cause sickness. Do not use it for more than two days. Do not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver problems, a blood disorder, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, an enlarged prostate or narrow-angle glaucoma. Tell our pharmacist if you have heart disease or a heart-rhythm problem, risk factors for stroke, myasthenia gravis, or a history of blood clots, or if you take any other medicines. It can cause drowsiness, so do not drive or use machines if affected, and avoid alcohol. Stop and seek medical advice if you develop unusual muscle movements or stiffness, a high temperature, or a sore throat or infection that will not clear. Protect your skin from strong sunlight while taking it. Do not chew, suck or swallow the tablet.