Why take promethazine

Like all medicines, promethazine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away:. Promethazine can sometimes make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Keep out of direct or strong sunlight and follow sun safety advice. If you're over 65, you're more likely to get side effects such as:.

Talk to a doctor or call straight away if you have these side effects. Children are more likely to get side effects such as feeling restless or excited.

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to promethazine. These are not all the side effects of promethazine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Promethazine can be used in pregnancy. There is no good evidence that it is harmful to your baby, but it can have side effects such as drowsiness. For the treatment of hay fever your doctor or pharmacist may recommend a non-drowsy antihistamine loratadine. If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, promethazine can be used during breastfeeding. If you are prescribed promethazine, it's better to take occasional doses or only for a short time. It's not known how much promethazine passes into breast milk but it is likely to be a small amount.

It has been used for many years without causing babies to have side effects. However, promethazine is a drowsy antihistamine, so may also make your baby sleepy too. It may also reduce the amount of milk you produce.

If you're breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, as other medicines might be better while you're breastfeeding. If your baby is not feeding as well as usual, seems unusually sleepy, or seems irritable, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, health visitor or midwife.

Some medicines and promethazine can affect each other and increase the chance of having side effects. If you're taking a cough or cold remedy or a painkiller containing promethazine, check carefully what the other ingredients are. For example, promethazine often comes mixed with paracetamol. If you take 2 medicines that both contain paracetamol, there's a risk of overdose.

Ask your pharmacist for advice before you take this medicine together with any other painkillers or medicines. There might be a problem taking some herbal remedies and supplements alongside promethazine, especially ones that cause side effects such as sleepiness, a dry mouth or making it difficult to pee. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

Promethazine is a medicine called an antihistamine. It's classed as a drowsy sedating antihistamine. When you come into contact with something you're allergic to, such as pollen or animal hair, your body produces a chemical called histamine. This can cause symptoms such as a runny nose or skin rashes. Promethazine blocks the effects of histamine in your brain and this reduces symptoms.

It enters the brain in large quantities and this can make you feel drowsy. Promethazine also blocks the effects of a chemical called dopamine, and this stops you feeling sick. Promethazine blocks the effects of a natural chemical called acetylcholine. This can help dry up a cough or runny nose, but can also cause side effects such as a dry mouth and dry nose. Some cough and cold remedies claim to suppress your cough or stop you bringing up phlegm.

Although some people find them helpful, they're not usually recommended. This is because there's little evidence that they're any more effective than simple home remedies and they're not suitable for everyone. Promethazine will start to make you feel sleepy around 20 minutes after you take it and may work for up to 12 hours.

If you're taking it for a cough or cold, allergies or feeling sick nausea , your symptoms should start to improve within 20 minutes. The medicine should work for around 4 to 6 hours. Only take promethazine for a short time, unless your doctor says it's OK for you to take it for longer. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor before taking promethazine for longer than the medicine leaflet recommends.

Ask them for advice if you're unsure how long you should take it for. It's unlikely that you'll get addicted to promethazine. But it's best that you only take it for a very short time, unless your doctor tells you to take it for longer.

If you have bought a medicine containing promethazine, do not take it for longer than recommended on the packet without speaking to your pharmacist or doctor first. If you have taken promethazine for a long time and suddenly stop taking it, it's possible you might feel dizzy, sweaty or sick, have a racing heart and have trouble sleeping. Speak to your doctor if you have taken promethazine for a long time and want to stop taking it.

Promethazine is known as a drowsy sedating antihistamine as it makes you sleepy. Non-drowsy antihistamines are less likely to have this effect.

These include cetirizine , fexofenadine and loratadine. This medication must not be given by injection under the skin. It is also used with other medication to treat severe allergic reactions anaphylaxis and reactions to blood products. It may also be used to treat milder allergic reactions when you cannot take promethazine by mouth.

It may also be used to help certain opioid pain relievers such as meperidine work better. Promethazine is an antihistamine and works by blocking a certain natural substance histamine that your body makes during an allergic reaction. Its other effects such as anti-nausea, calming, pain relief may work by affecting other natural substances such as acetylcholine and by acting directly on certain parts of the brain.

See also Warning section. It is best to inject this medication deep into a muscle. It may also be given by injection slowly into a large vein by a health care professional.

Do not inject this medication under the skin or into an artery. For nausea and vomiting, use this medication as directed by your doctor, usually every 4 hours as needed. If you have any questions about the proper use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are using this medication at home, learn all preparation and usage instructions from your health care professional. Before using, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Learn how to store and discard medical supplies safely. The dosage and how often you receive this medication are based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment.

In children, the dosage may also be based on weight. Do not increase your dose or use this medication more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. Drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, blurred vision, or dry mouth may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To relieve dry mouth, suck sugarless hard candy or ice chips, chew sugarless gum, drink water, or use a saliva substitute.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. This medication may rarely cause a very serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome NMS. Get medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms:.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Promethazine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you experience any unusual problems while you are taking this medication. Keep this medication in the carton or container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store promethazine tablets and liquid at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom. Store promethazine suppositories in the refrigerator. Protect the medication from light. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them.

However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily.

To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Promethazine can interfere with the results of home pregnancy tests. Talk to your doctor if you think you might be pregnant while you are taking promethazine.

Do not try to test for pregnancy at home. Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking promethazine. Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.

You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Keep from freezing. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests or if you have any questions, check with your doctor. This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Even if taken at bedtime, it may cause some people to feel drowsy or less alert on arising.

Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants medicines that make you drowsy or less alert. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics.

Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you are taking this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have symptoms of pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin; difficult or troubled breathing; irregular, fast, slow, or shallow breathing; or shortness of breath.

These could be signs of a condition called respiratory depression. Check with your doctor right away and stop taking your medicine if directed by your doctor if you have muscle stiffness, fever, difficult or fast breathing, seizures, fast heartbeat, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, unusually pale skin, or tiredness or weakness. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome NMS. Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine.

The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine. This medicine may cause dryness of the mouth. For temporary relief, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute.

However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.