CPZ

Medical abbreviation · Drug

CPZ
Stands forCompazine (prochlorperazine)
CategoriesMedical

CPZ stands for Compazine (prochlorperazine), a drug abbreviation.

Shorthand for Compazine, a former brand name of the antiemetic prochlorperazine. ISMP lists CPZ as error-prone because it is also used for chlorpromazine, a different antipsychotic.

Example: Old order "CPZ 10 mg IV q6h PRN N/V" was clarified as prochlorperazine.

Usage notes

Both drugs are phenothiazines and share side effects such as sedation, low blood pressure and movement disorders, so the mix-up can go unnoticed. Compazine is no longer marketed under that brand in the US, but the nickname persists in emergency departments. ISMP recommends using the full generic name.

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Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.