Buccastem: what it is licensed for, and what it is not

Educational summary · drug class: Phenothiazine antiemetic, 3 mg buccal (gum-dissolved) tablet · last reviewed 2026-06-29

Buccastem is a 3 mg prochlorperazine buccal tablet that dissolves against the gum instead of being swallowed. It exists in two UK versions with very different rules. Buccastem M can be bought from a pharmacy, but its license covers exactly one thing: nausea and vomiting of previously diagnosed migraine, in adults 18 and over, for at most two days. The prescription version's license is much wider: vertigo from Meniere's disease and labyrinthitis, nausea and vomiting from whatever cause, and migraine. The NHS lists motion sickness among the problems prochlorperazine can be prescribed for, but no Buccastem you can buy over the counter is licensed for travel sickness. Ask a pharmacist.

Not medical advice. This page is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional. Dizzout is not a medical provider: we are not doctors or pharmacists. The information here is a general summary drawn from sources such as the FDA-approved label and other public health resources, and it may not reflect the most current changes; the official product label is the authoritative source. Whether any medicine is right for you, and how much to take, are individual decisions that depend on your health, age, and other medicines. We do not provide dosing instructions: always read the product label and follow its directions. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, and never disregard or delay professional medical advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, contact a doctor or your local emergency number immediately.

What it is

Prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine antiemetic, a different family from the antihistamine and hyoscine tablets on the travel shelf, and in the UK it appears as Stemetil (tablets and syrup) and Buccastem (buccal tablets). The buccal format is the interesting part: the tablet is placed high up along the top gum under the upper lip and left to dissolve, forming a gel that releases the medicine for absorption through the mouth's lining, no swallowing required. That route matters when someone is actively vomiting and cannot keep a swallowed tablet down. The pharmacy version, Buccastem M, is held by Alliance Pharmaceuticals; equivalent prescription-only 3 mg buccal tablets exist under the generic name.

Availability: Two UK versions: Buccastem M can be bought from a pharmacy for migraine nausea in adults 18 and over only; the wider-indication version is prescription-only. It is not a travel sickness shelf product. Legal status, brand names, and availability vary by country: check what applies where you live.

How it may help with motion sickness

Mostly, it is the wrong aisle for motion sickness. The UK travel-sickness shelf is built on hyoscine (Kwells, Joy-Rides) and sedating antihistamines (Stugeron, Avomine); prochlorperazine belongs to the phenothiazine antiemetic family, and the only version sold without a prescription is licensed for migraine nausea alone. That said, the NHS does list motion sickness among the conditions prochlorperazine is prescribed for, and the prescription buccal tablet's license covers nausea and vomiting from any cause and vertigo from inner-ear disorders. So a doctor may have a reason to prescribe it; a pharmacist cannot sell it to you for a ferry crossing.

General timing

Buccastem M's label is not written around journeys. It directs use for migraine nausea in adults 18 and over, up to the stated maximum, for two days at most, with the tablet left to dissolve high up along the top gum under the upper lip, not chewed or swallowed. There is no take-before-travel timing because travel sickness is not what the pharmacy version is licensed for. We do not provide dosing instructions: follow the pack and your pharmacist's or doctor's directions.

We don't provide dosing instructions. The exact amount, schedule, and whether it suits you are individual decisions: read the product label and follow its directions, and ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Common side effects

Sources such as the product label commonly list:

Drowsiness
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Low blood pressure (hypotension), a particular caution in older adults
Extrapyramidal reactions: muscle stiffness, restlessness or abnormal movements, which need medical review

Who should check with a doctor or pharmacist first

Buccastem M is for adults 18 and over only, and only where a doctor has previously diagnosed migraine; the prescription buccal tablets are not recommended under 12.
The label's do-not-use list includes impaired liver function, blood disorders, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, prostatic hypertrophy and narrow angle glaucoma.
Pregnancy: the buccal tablet label lists pregnancy among its contraindications. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any prochlorperazine product.
May cause drowsiness: the label warns people who drive or operate machinery, and alcohol and other CNS depressants add to it.
Unusual muscle movements, stiffness or restlessness after a dose are a reason to stop and seek medical advice.
Maximum two days' use for the pharmacy version; nausea that outlasts that needs a doctor, not more tablets.

Related situation guides

Frequently asked questions

Can you buy Buccastem over the counter for travel sickness?

No. The pharmacy version, Buccastem M, is licensed only for nausea and vomiting of previously diagnosed migraine in adults 18 and over. For travel sickness the over-the-counter options are the hyoscine tablets (Kwells, Joy-Rides) and the antihistamines (Stugeron, Avomine); a pharmacist will point you there.

What is the difference between Buccastem and Buccastem M?

Same 3 mg prochlorperazine buccal tablet, different licenses. Buccastem M is the pharmacy version, restricted to migraine nausea in adults 18 and over for at most two days. The prescription version covers vertigo from Meniere's disease and labyrinthitis, nausea and vomiting from any cause, and migraine, from age 12 per its label.

How do you take a buccal tablet?

You park it, high up along the top gum under the upper lip, and leave it to dissolve. Do not chew or swallow it. The tablet forms a gel that releases the medicine through the lining of the mouth, which is the point: it works even when swallowing anything is a losing battle.

Is prochlorperazine ever used for motion sickness?

The NHS lists motion sickness among the conditions prochlorperazine can be prescribed for, so a doctor may choose it in some situations. What you cannot do is buy it for that: the over-the-counter license is migraine-only. If travel sickness is the actual problem, the standard travel medicines and drug-free approaches are the usual conversation.

What are Buccastem's side effects?

Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth and low blood pressure are the notable ones, and phenothiazines can rarely cause movement effects: stiffness, restlessness or abnormal movements, which warrant stopping and seeing a doctor. Older adults are more sensitive, particularly to the blood pressure effect.

Sources

This page is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional. Dizzout is not a medical provider: we are not doctors or pharmacists. The information here is a general summary drawn from sources such as the FDA-approved label and other public health resources, and it may not reflect the most current changes; the official product label is the authoritative source. Whether any medicine is right for you, and how much to take, are individual decisions that depend on your health, age, and other medicines. We do not provide dosing instructions: always read the product label and follow its directions. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, and never disregard or delay professional medical advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, contact a doctor or your local emergency number immediately.