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. Most people prefer to take a non-drowsy antihistamine as it's less likely to interfere with their everyday routine. You might choose to take a drowsy antihistamine, however, if you're having problems falling asleep, or if symptoms like itching or coughing are keeping you awake. There is not enough information available to say whether one antihistamine is better than another for treating allergies.
You may need to try a few different medicines to find what works best for you. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice if you're unsure. You can take 2 different antihistamines at a time, if your doctor says it's OK. If you have a severe itchy skin rash, your doctor may recommend 2 different antihistamines together for a few days.
You could take a non-drowsy antihistamine such as cetirizine , fexofenadine or loratadine during the day, and a drowsy antihistamine at night if itching is making it difficult to sleep. Do not take another drowsy antihistamine together with promethazine. It'll make you very tired and sleepy. Other drowsy antihistamines include chlorphenamine Piriton and diphenhydramine Nytol Original.
Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless you have been advised to by your doctor. If you take it for insomnia or take it at bedtime, promethazine will help you sleep. If you take it during the day for other conditions, such as allergies, it might make you feel sleepy during the day as well. Yes, you can take promethazine together with some painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. If you take promethazine with painkillers that contain codeine such as co-codamol or other prescription painkillers , you may feel very tired and sleepy.
It's important to check the packaging or label of your medicine carefully. This is because some promethazine products already contain a painkiller. Do not take extra painkillers if this is the case, as there's a risk of overdose. Speak to your pharmacist if you're not sure whether a medicine already contains a painkiller.
Do not drive a car or ride a bike if promethazine makes you sleepy during the daytime, gives you blurred vision or makes you feel dizzy, clumsy or unable to concentrate or make decisions. This may be more likely when you first start taking promethazine, but could happen at any time for example, when starting another medicine.
It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking promethazine. UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving. There's no evidence to suggest that taking promethazine reduces fertility in either men or women.
But speak to a pharmacist or doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant. Promethazine does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. You will not be able to breathe properly and may have difficulty waking up.
However, do not drink alcohol. And if you take promethazine to help you sleep, try not to have drinks that contain caffeine, like coffee, tea, cola or energy drinks.
Caffeine has the opposite effect to promethazine and can stop the medicine working. Yes, it's dangerous to take promethazine with recreational drugs. This is because it can slow or stop your heart and lungs. Mixing promethazine and codeine in large amounts slows down the central nervous system brain and spinal cord , which can slow breathing and heart rate. It's even more dangerous when taken with alcohol or other drugs and has caused people to die. Find out more the side effects of some recreational drugs on the Frank website.
Promethazine will only help you sleep while you're taking it, so there are a number of things you can do instead to help yourself have a good night's sleep :. If you have hay fever , it helps if you do not spend too much time outside if the pollen count is high. The best way to prevent any sort of allergic reaction is to avoid the substance that you're allergic to, if you can. There are some practical steps you can follow to help prevent allergies.
Page last reviewed: 27 October Next review due: 27 October Promethazine Phenergan - Other brand names: Avomine, Sominex On this page About promethazine Key facts Who can and cannot take promethazine How and when to take promethazine Side effects How to cope with side effects of promethazine Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about promethazine. About promethazine Promethazine is an antihistamine medicine that relieves the symptoms of allergies.
Promethazine is used for: short-term sleep problems insomnia — including when a cough, cold or itching is keeping you awake at night allergies, including hay fever and hives urticaria feeling and being sick vomiting — due to motion sickness or vertigo cold symptoms, such as coughing and a runny nose You can buy promethazine from pharmacies, where it's often sold as Avomine, Phenergan or Sominex.
It comes as tablets, capsules and a liquid that you swallow. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Do not drink alcohol while taking promethazine. Alcohol increases the risks of side effects. To help you sleep, take promethazine 20 minutes before you go to bed.
It normally takes about 30 minutes to work. To prevent motion sickness, take promethazine the night before a long journey or 1 to 2 hours before a short journey. Common side effects of promethazine include drowsiness, headaches, nightmares and feeling dizzy, restless or confused. Promethazine can be taken by most adults. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to promethazine or any other medicine have an eye problem called primary angle closure glaucoma have problems peeing or emptying your bladder have epilepsy or any other health problem that causes seizures or fits are due to have an allergy test.
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. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Generic alternatives may be available. Promethazine pronounced as proe meth' a zeen. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names Brand names of combination products. Talk to your doctor about the risks of giving promethazine to your child.
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. Hold it in place for a few moments. Stand up after about 15 minutes. Wash your hands thoroughly and resume your normal activities.
Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? 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. 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 MAO inhibitors 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. 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. If you become pregnant while taking promethazine, call your doctor. Older adults should not usually take promethazine because it is not as safe as other medications that can be used to treat the same conditions.
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.
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