Promethazine is used to relieve the symptoms of allergic reactions such as allergic rhinitis (runny nose and watery eyes caused by allergy to pollen, mold or dust), allergic conjunctivitis (red, watery eyes caused by allergies), allergic skin reactions, and allergic reactions to blood or plasma products. Promethazine is used with other medications to treat anaphylaxis (sudden, severe allergic reactions) and the symptoms of the common cold such as sneezing, cough, and runny nose. Promethazine is also used to relax and sedate patients before and after surgery, during labor, and at other times. Promethazine is also used to prevent and control nausea and vomiting that may occur after surgery, and with other medications to help relieve pain after surgery. Promethazine is also used to prevent and treat motion sickness. Promethazine helps control symptoms, but will not treat the cause of the symptoms or speed recovery. Promethazine is in a class of medications called phenothiazines. It works by blocking the action of a certain natural substance in the body.

Promethazine comes as a tablet and syrup (liquid) to take by mouth and as a suppository to use rectally. When promethazine is used to treat allergies, it is ordinarily embezzled one to four times daily, before meals and/or at bedtime. When promethazine is utilized to meliorate cold symptoms, it is unremarkably confiscate every 4-6 hours as needful. When antiemetic is old to impact proposal symptom, it is taken 30-60 proceedings before travel and again after 8-12 hours if needful. On somebody trips, phenergan is ordinarily arrogated in the morn and before the day aliment on apiece day of journey. When phenergan is used to address or forestall sickness and expulsion and food comfort rest. Grow the directions on your medicament judge carefully, and ask your scholar or pharmacist to justify any split you do not realize. Postulate phenergan exactly as directed. Do not move more or less of it or postulate it many ofttimes than formal by your scholar.

Phenergan suppositories are for rectal use only. Do not try to consume the suppositories or lay in any opposite break of your embody.

If you are winning phenergan liquefiable, do not use a household spoon to maneuver your medicine. Use the activity woodenware or cup that came with the medicament or use a containerful prefabricated especially for measuring drug.

To pose a antihistamine suppository, locomote these steps:

* If the suppository feels mellow, hold it low nippy, operative facility for 1 distance. Disappear the cloak.
* Dip the tip of the suppository in facility.
* Lie kill on your nigh opinion and amend your moral knee to your furniture. (A left-handed someone should lie on the manus face and evoke the manus genu.)
* Using your digit, set the suppository into the rectum, near ˝ to 1 progress in children who are 2 life of age sr. and 1 advance in adults. Regard it in gauge for a few moments.
* Booth up after nearly 15 transactions. Clean your guardianship soundly and continue your average activities.

Each tablet of Phenergan contains 12.5 mg, 25 mg, or 50 mg promethazine HCl. The inactive ingredients present are lactose, magnesium stearate, and methylcellulose. Each dosage strength also contains the following:

12.5 mg-FD&C Yellow 6 and saccharin sodium;
25 mg-saccharin sodium;
50 mg-FD&C Red 40.

Each rectal suppository of Phenergan contains 12.5 mg, 25 mg, or 50 mg promethazine HCl with ascorbyl palmitate, silicon dioxide, white wax, and cocoa butter. Phenergan Suppositories are for rectal administration only.

Promethazine HCl is a racemic compound; the empirical formula is C17H20N2S•HCl and its molecular weight is 320.88.

Promethazine HCl occurs as a white to faint yellow, practically odorless, crystalline powder which slowly oxidizes and turns blue on prolonged exposure to air. It is freely soluble in water and soluble in alcohol.

In case of overdose If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

* difficulty breathing
* slowed or stopped breathing
* dizziness
* lightheadedness
* fainting
* loss of consciousness
* fast heartbeat
* tight muscles that are difficult to move
* loss of coordination
* continuous twisting movements of the hands and feet
* dry mouth
* wide pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes)
* flushing
* upset stomach
* constipation
* abnormal excitement or agitation

Promethazine can cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

* dry mouth
* drowsiness
* listlessness
* difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
* nightmares
* dizziness
* ringing in ears
* blurred or double vision
* loss of coordination
* upset stomach
* vomiting
* nervousness
* restlessness
* hyperactivity
* abnormally happy mood
* stuffy nose
* itching

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

* wheezing
* slowed breathing
* breathing stops for a short time
* fever
* sweating
* stiff muscles
* decreased alertness
* fast or irregular pulse or heartbeat
* faintness
* abnormal or uncontrollable movements
* hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
* confusion
* overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotion
* seizures
* uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
* unusual bruising or bleeding
* sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection
* uncontrolled eye movements
* tongue sticking out
* abnormal neck position
* inability to respond to people around you
* yellowing of the skin or eyes
* rash
* hives
* swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
* hoarseness
* difficulty breathing or swallowing

Promethazine comes as a tablet and syrup (liquid) to take by mouth and as a suppository to use rectally.When promethazine is used to treat allergies, it is usually taken one to four times daily, before meals and/or at bedtime. When promethazine is used to relieve cold symptoms, it is usually taken every 4-6 hours as needed. When promethazine is used to treat motion sickness, it is taken 30-60 minutes before travel and again after 8-12 hours if needed. On longer trips, promethazine is usually taken in the morning and before the evening meal on each day of travel. When promethazine is used to treat or prevent nausea and vomiting it is usually taken every 4-6 hours as needed. Promethazine may also be taken at bedtime the night before surgery to relieve anxiety and produce quiet sleep. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take promethazine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Promethazine suppositories are for rectal use only. Do not try to swallow the suppositories or insert in any other part of your body.

If you are taking promethazine liquid, do not use a household spoon to measure your dose. Use the measuring spoon or cup that came with the medication or use a spoon made especially for measuring medication.

To insert a promethazine suppository, follow these steps:

* If the suppository feels soft, hold it under cold, running water for 1 minute. Remove the wrapper.
* Dip the tip of the suppository in water.
* Lie down on your left side and raise your right knee to your chest. (A left-handed person should lie on the right side and raise the left knee.)
* Using your finger, insert the suppository into the rectum, about ½ to 1 inch in children who are 2 years of age older and 1 inch in adults. Hold it in place for a few moments.
* Stand up after about 15 minutes. Wash your hands thoroughly and resume your normal activities.

Before taking promethazine,

* tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to promethazine, other phenothiazines (certain medications used to treat mental illness, nausea, vomiting, severe hiccups, and other conditions) or any other medications. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have ever had an unusual or unexpected reaction when you took promethazine, another phenothiazine, or any other medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not know if a medication you are allergic to is a phenothiazine.
* tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: antidepressants (’mood elevators’) such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); antihistamines; azathioprine (Imuran);barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Luminal); cancer chemotherapy; epinephrine (Epipen); ipratropium (Atrovent)medications for anxiety, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, motion sickness, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems; monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar); narcotics and other pain medication; sedatives; sleeping pills;and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
* tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an enlarged prostate (a male reproductive gland); glaucoma (a condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to gradual loss of vision); seizures; ulcers; blockage in the passage between the stomach and intestine; blockage in the bladder; asthma or other lung disease; sleep apnea; cancer;any condition that affects the production of blood cells in your bone marrow; or heart or liver disease. If you will be giving promethazine to a child, also tell the child’s doctor if the child has any of the following symptoms before he or she receives the medication: vomiting, listlessness, drowsiness, confusion, aggression, seizures, yellowing of the skin or eyes, weakness, or flu-like symptoms. Also tell the child’s doctor if the child has not been drinking normally, has had excessive vomiting or diarrhea, or appears dehydrated.
* tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking promethazine, call your doctor. Do not breastfeed while you are taking promethazine.
* if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking promethazine.
* you should know that this medication may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. If you are giving promethazine to a child, watch the child to be sure he or she does not get hurt while riding a bike or participating in other activities that could be dangerous.
* remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.
* plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Promethazine may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

Promethazine may cause breathing to slow or stop, and may cause death in children. Promethazine should not be given to babies or children who are younger than 2 years old and should be given with caution to children who are 2 years of age or older. Combination products containing promethazine and codeine should not be given to children younger than 16 years old. Promethazine should not routinely be used to treat vomiting in children; it should only be used in specific cases when a doctor decides that it is needed. Tell your child’s doctor if your child has any condition that affects his/her breathing such as lung disease, asthma, or sleep apnea (stops breathing for short periods of time during sleep). Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medications your child is taking, especially barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Luminal), medications for anxiety, narcotic medications for pain, sedatives, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. Call your child’s doctor immediately and get emergency medical treatment if your child has difficulty breathing, wheezes, slows or pauses in breathing, or stops breathing.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of giving promethazine to your child.

Many drugs can interact with promethazine. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

*

sedatives or anxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), temazepam (Restoril), or triazolam (Halcion);
*

antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), or paroxetine (Paxil);
*

narcotic pain medicines such as meperidine (Demerol), morphine (MS Contin, MSIR), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan), fentanyl (Duragesic), codeine (Fiorinal, Fioricet, Tylenol #3);
*

phenobarbital (Luminal), amobarbital (Amytal) or secobarbital (Seconal);
*

an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam); or
*

atropine (Donnatal, and others), belladonna, clidinium (Quarzan), dicyclomine (Bentyl), glycopyrrolate (Robinul), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), methscopolamine (Pamine), and scopolamine (Transderm-Scop).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with promethazine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Promethazine should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old. Promethazine can cause severe breathing problems or death in a child younger than 2. Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions when giving this medicine to a child of any age. Do not use promethazine if you have asthma or other lung disease.

Before taking promethazine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

*      epilepsy or another seizure disorder;
*      sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep);
*      glaucoma;
*      a stomach ulcer or digestive obstruction;
*      bone marrow disorder;
*      problems with urination;
*      high blood pressure or heart disease; or
*      liver disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take promethazine.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether promethazine passes into breast milk or if it could harm an unborn baby. Do not use promethazine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more sensitive to the side effects of promethazine.

Call your doctor immediately if you experience twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs. These could be early signs of dangerous side effects. Promethazine should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old. Promethazine can cause severe breathing problems or death in a child younger than 2. Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions when giving this medicine to a child of any age. Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, large pupils, flushing, nausea, vomiting, shallow breathing, and fainting. Promethazine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of promethazine. There are many other medicines that can cause interact with promethazine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.