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Primperan

Marketed in 29 countries across Western Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, Primperan is an internationally distributed brand of metoclopramide, classified among drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders with antiemetic and prokinetic properties. For travellers and expatriates who already know the brand from one regional market, the page below sets out where else the same product is registered and what the underlying active ingredient is.

Metoclopramide is prescribed across a range of contexts where nausea, vomiting, or impaired upper-gastrointestinal motility are the clinical concern — including chemotherapy-related nausea, morning sickness, dyspepsia, persistent burping, and certain presentations of migraine. The structured indication list further down this page details the full set of registered uses recognised in the markets where Primperan is sold.

Because Primperan has a fairly broad international footprint, it is encountered by travellers in markets as varied as France, Japan, Egypt, Indonesia, and Colombia. Regulatory packaging, prescription requirements, and even the available formulations vary considerably from one country to another, and the same metoclopramide molecule is also sold elsewhere under other brand names. A pharmacist in the destination country is the right person to confirm whether a locally available product corresponds to what the patient has been using at home.

Other medications in the antiemetic and prokinetic categories exist worldwide under different active ingredients, although they are not casually interchangeable with metoclopramide. Anyone taking Primperan, considering it, or trying to identify a local equivalent while abroad should treat the choice as a clinical conversation with a healthcare provider rather than a substitution made at the counter.

Countries
Belgium Colombia Costa Rica Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Finland France Guatemala Honduras Hong Kong Indonesia Japan Lebanon Malaysia Netherlands Nicaragua Oman Panama Peru Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tunisia Turkey
Diseases
Chemotherapy Burping Morning Sickness Dyspepsia Migraine
Ingredients
Metoclopramide
Drug Actions
Drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders Antiemetic Anti-icicle Stimulating tone and motility of the gastrointestinal tract

Drugs with the same active ingredients

Bitecain aa Factorine Gastrocalm Metilprednisolona richet Metilprednisolona richet(antiemetic) Metoclopramida drawer Metoclopramida fada Metoclopramida larjan Metoclopramida lba Metoclopramida norgreen Metoclopramida vannier Metotag Midatenk Novomit Novomit (antiemetic) Praux Primavera-n Primperil Reliveran Rilaquin

Overdose

Substance; Substance-powderPills; Solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection

Symptoms

Extrapyramidal disorders, drowsiness, decreased level of consciousness, confusion, hallucination, and cardio-respiratory arrest may occur.

Management

In case of extrapyramidal symptoms related or not to overdose, the treatment is only symptomatic (benzodiazepines in children and/or anticholinergic anti-parkinsonian medicinal products in adults).

A symptomatic treatment and a continuous monitoring of the cardiovascular and respiratory functions should be carried out according to clinical status.

Symptoms

Extrapyramidal disorders, drowsiness, decreased level of consciousness, confusion, hallucination, and cardio-respiratory arrest may occur.

Management

In case of extrapyramidal symptoms related or not to overdose, the treatment is only symptomatic (benzodiazepines in children and/or anticholinergic anti-parkinsonian medicinal products in adults). A symptomatic treatment and a continuous monitoring of the cardiovascular and respiratory functions should be carried out according to clinical status.

Incompatibilities

Substance; Substance-powderPills; Solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection

No particulars.

None known.

Preclinical safety data

Substance; Substance-powderPills; Solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection

No abnormalities have been found in animal studies to indicate a safety risk in humans. This is based on data from pharmacological studies relating to safety, and data on toxicity following repeated administration, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity.

Not applicable.

Pharmacotherapeutic group

preparations to combat nausea/vomiting.

Pharmacodynamic properties

Substance; Substance-powderPills; Solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection

Metoclopramide is a substituted benzamide. It is used among other things because of its anti-emetic properties. The anti-emetic effect is the result of two mechanisms of action involving the central nervous system:

- antagonism of the dopaminergic D2 receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone and in the vomiting centre of the medulla which is affected in apomorphine-induced vomiting;

- antagonism of the serotoninergic 5HT3 receptors and agonist effect on the 5HT4 receptors which are affected in chemotherapy-induced vomiting.

In addition to the central action, metoclopramide has a stimulant effect on gastrointestinal motility via a peripheral mechanism of action. There is an antidopaminergic effect and potentiation of the effect of acetylcholine. This causes accelerated emptying of the stomach and there is an increase in the pressure exerted by the lower oesophageal sphincter. Metoclopramide has no effect on gastric secretions.

Primperan hydrochloride is an anti-emetic and an accelerator of gastric emptying.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Substance; Substance-powderPills; Solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection

Following oral administration the relative bioavailability compared with intravenous administration is 60 to 100%. Peak plasma concentrations are reached within 0.5 to 2 hours.

The distribution volume is 2-3 l/kg; 13-22% is bound to plasma proteins. Metoclopramide is excreted primarily in the urine, both in unchanged form and in sulfate or glucuronide conjugate form. The principal metabolite is an N-4 sulphur conjugate.

The plasma elimination half-life is 5 to 6 hours, irrespective of the route of administration.

Special patient populations

Renal impairment

The clearance of metoclopramide is reduced by up to 70% in patients with severe renal impairment, while the plasma elimination half-life is increased (approximately 10 hours for a creatinine clearance of 10-50 mL/minute and 15 hours for a creatinine clearance <10 mL/minute).

Hepatic impairment

In patients with cirrhosis of the liver, accumulation of metoclopramide has been observed, associated with a 50% reduction in plasma clearance.

Renal impairment

The clearance of Primperan is reduced by up to 70% in patients with severe renal impairment, while the plasma elimination half-life is increased (approximately 10 hours for a creatinine clearance of 10-50 mL/minute and 15 hours for a creatinine clearance <10 mL/minute).

Hepatic impairment

In patients with cirrhosis of the liver, accumulation of Primperan has been observed, associated with a 50% reduction in plasma clearance.

Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Substance; Substance-powderPills; Solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection

No special requirements.

Not applicable.

Administrative data

Frequently asked questions

What conditions does Primperan treat?

Primperan is used in the management of nausea and vomiting in a range of clinical contexts, including chemotherapy-related nausea, morning sickness, dyspepsia, persistent burping, and certain presentations of migraine. It is classified among drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders, with antiemetic and gastrointestinal motility-stimulating properties. The structured indication block further down this page lists each registered use as recognised in the markets where Primperan is sold.

Which active substance is in Primperan?

Primperan contains metoclopramide, classified as an antiemetic and as an agent that stimulates tone and motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Metoclopramide is the same molecule whether sold under the Primperan brand or under one of the many other brand names used internationally — the same active ingredient circulates worldwide in both branded and generic forms across multiple regulatory regimes.

In how many countries is Primperan available?

Primperan is registered in 29 countries spanning Western Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of East and Southeast Asia. Representative markets include France, Japan, Egypt, Colombia, Indonesia, Denmark, and Hong Kong. If your country is not among those listed in the structured data on this page, a local pharmacist can usually confirm whether metoclopramide is sold locally under a different brand name or as a generic.

Are there other medications with the same active ingredient as Primperan?

Metoclopramide is marketed under several brand names worldwide, alongside generic versions in markets where the original patent has expired. Other medications within the broader antiemetic and prokinetic categories also exist, although they are not freely interchangeable — molecules in these classes differ meaningfully in their profiles. To identify a metoclopramide-containing product near you, search the active ingredient on Pill2Trip or ask a pharmacist in your country.

Should I consult a doctor before taking Primperan?

Yes. Primperan is a prescription medication in most jurisdictions, and antiemetic therapy is generally calibrated to the underlying cause of nausea, the patient's wider clinical picture, and any concurrent treatments. This matters particularly for travellers and people relocating between countries, since prescription requirements, available formulations, and regulatory status can differ from one market to another. Decisions about starting, continuing, or substituting metoclopramide should involve a healthcare provider.

Primperan

Available in 29 countries