Drug Name

Promethazine

Drug Uses

Promethazine are used for relieving allergy symptoms, including hives or runny nose. It is used to prevent and control nausea and vomiting during and after surgery. It is also used to help produce light sleep; prevent and treat motion sickness; or treat pain after surgery, in combination with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How to use

Use Promethazine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

Take Promethazine by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.

If you are using Promethazine for motion sickness, take a dose at least 30 to 60 minutes before you begin traveling.

If you miss a dose of Promethazine and you are using it regularly, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to you regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Promethazine.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Promethazine are a phenothiazine antihistamine. It works by blocking the sites where histamine acts.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Storage

Store this medicine at room temperature in a tightly-closed container, away from heat and light.

Warnings/Precautions

Do NOT use Promethazine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Promethazine
• you have severe central nervous system depression or are in a coma
• you are also taking astemizole, cisapride, terfenadine, or tramadol

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Promethazine:
Some medical conditions may interact with Promethazine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have nervous system problems, bone marrow depression, heart problems, a blood disease, glaucoma, increased eye pressure, low blood pressure, liver problems, prostate problems, Parkinson disease, seizures, or Reye syndrome
• if you regularly consume large amounts of alcohol

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Promethazine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Charcoal or lithium because they may decrease Promethazine's effectiveness
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril), astemizole, cisapride, general anesthetics (eg, thiopental), methyldopa, terfenadine, or tramadol because side effects, such as low blood pressure and seizures, may occur
• ACE inhibitors (eg, enalapril), haloperidol, lithium, meperidine, metrizamide, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (eg, phenelzine), naltrexone, polypeptide antibiotics (eg, actinomycin), or trazodone because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Promethazine
• Bromocriptine, epinephrine, levodopa, or pergolide because their effectiveness may be decreased by Promethazine

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Promethazine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Possible Side Effects

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Blurred vision; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); confusion; excessive sweating; fainting; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; mental or mood changes (eg, agitation, delirium, exaggerated sense of well-being, excitability, hysteria, nervousness); seizures; severe of persistent dizziness; shortness of breath or trouble breathing; slow or fast heartbeat; tremor; trouble sleeping; uncontrolled muscle movements; unusual bruising or bleeding; yellowing of skin or eyes.

More Information

If you have any questions about Promethazine, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Promethazine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.