Miya Pearson
Phenergan, also known as promethazine hydrochloride, is a medication that can be used to treat allergies, nausea, travel sickness, and sleep issues. It is available in the form of oral tablets, oral syrup, powder, injections, and suppositories. Phenergan is often taken at bedtime and can be purchased over the counter in the UK. However, it may interact with other medications such as sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, and antipsychotics, and can increase the risk of side effects. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking Phenergan, especially when taking other medications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Phenergan's use as a sleep aid | Phenergan is an antihistamine commonly used for allergy relief, nausea, travel sickness, and as a sleep aid. It is available as a 25mg tablet or syrup. |
| Precautions | Phenergan may not be suitable for people with pre-existing breathing difficulties, a history of seizures, sulfite allergy, glaucoma, heart or liver disease, or those who are pregnant or nursing. It may interact with other medications such as sleeping pills, increasing side effects or decreasing effectiveness. |
| Side effects | Phenergan may cause drowsiness, dry mouth, confusion, tinnitus, double vision, anxiety, dizziness, and heart rate disturbances. It can also cause unusual results in certain medical tests. |
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What You'll Learn
Phenergan's sedative effects
Phenergan, also known by the generic name promethazine hydrochloride, is often used as a sedative or sleep aid. It is also used to prevent motion sickness and to treat nausea, vomiting, or pain after surgery. Phenergan is available in tablet, syrup, and rectal suppository form, and the average oral dose for adults is 25 mg taken twice daily. The initial dose should be taken one-half to one hour before anticipated travel and can be repeated 8 to 12 hours later if necessary. For children, the recommended dose is 12.5 to 25 mg, and it should be carefully administered under a doctor's instructions. Phenergan should not be given to children under 2 years of age due to the risk of severe breathing problems or death.
Phenergan is often taken at bedtime or before meals, and the timing of the dose depends on the condition being treated. It is important to follow the doctor's instructions and adjust the dosage to the smallest amount needed to relieve symptoms. Phenergan can cause side effects such as unusual results in medical tests, impaired thinking or reactions, and twitching or uncontrollable movements of the face and body, which could be early signs of dangerous side effects. It is advised to stop using Phenergan and consult a doctor if these symptoms occur.
Phenergan may interact with other medications and increase their sedative effects. For example, it is advised to avoid or use alternative drugs when taking Phenergan with fentanyl, buprenorphine, or calcium/magnesium/potassium/sodium oxybates, as profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, or even death may result from the interaction. Additionally, alcohol consumption should be avoided when taking Phenergan, as it can enhance its side effects.
Phenergan should be used with caution in patients with certain medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders. It is important to inform your doctor if you have any of these conditions before taking Phenergan. Similarly, pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before using Phenergan, as the potential risks and effects on the unborn baby or nursing child are not fully understood.
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Phenergan's side effects
Phenergan, also known as promethazine, is a medication that can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including allergies, motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, and pain after surgery. It is also used as a sedative or sleep aid. While Phenergan can be effective in treating these conditions, it is important to be aware of its potential side effects.
One of the most common side effects of Phenergan is drowsiness, which can impair thinking, reactions, and the ability to perform tasks that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery. This side effect usually wears off within 12 hours of taking a dose, but it is important to be cautious and avoid activities that could be dangerous if affected. Additionally, alcohol consumption should be avoided while taking Phenergan, as it can increase the severity of this side effect.
Other possible side effects of Phenergan include skin irritation, such as blistering, crusting, itching, or reddening of the skin, and ringing or buzzing in the ears. In some cases, Phenergan may also cause confusion, especially in older adults, and severe drowsiness. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to these side effects and may also experience age-related heart or blood vessel issues, liver problems, and kidney disease.
In rare cases, Phenergan can cause serious side effects, including uncontrolled muscle movements in the face and body, easy bruising or bleeding, sudden weakness, fever, and chills. It may also cause very stiff muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heart rate, tremors, and a feeling of faintness. If any of these side effects occur, it is important to stop taking Phenergan and seek medical help immediately.
Phenergan should not be taken by individuals with asthma or other lower respiratory tract disorders, as it can cause severe breathing problems. It is also not recommended for children under 2 years of age, as it can lead to severe breathing difficulties or even death in very young children. Always consult a doctor or pharmacist if you experience any side effects or have any concerns about taking Phenergan.
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Who should avoid Phenergan
Phenergan is an antihistamine and antipsychotic medication used to treat vomiting and nausea during or after surgery, motion sickness, and allergies. It is also used as a mild sedative and to induce sleep before and after surgery. However, there are several groups of people who should avoid taking Phenergan due to potential health risks.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take Phenergan tablets. While there is no direct link between Phenergan and adverse effects on pregnant women, it is still recommended that pregnant women consult their doctors before taking this medication. Phenergan has been known to cause irritability and excitement in pregnant women, and some experts recommend avoiding it two weeks before delivery. Additionally, small amounts of Phenergan can pass into mothers' milk, potentially harming the baby.
People with compromised respiratory function, such as those with COPD or sleep apnea, should also avoid Phenergan suppositories. The medication can cause severe breathing problems or even death in very young children. Phenergan should not be given to children under two years of age, and caution should be exercised when administering it to children over two.
Phenergan may also interact with other medications, vitamins, minerals, and herbal products. It is important to consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking Phenergan if you are taking any other substances. People with seizure disorders, such as epilepsy, or those taking narcotics or local anesthetics, should also use caution when considering Phenergan.
Finally, Phenergan can impair thinking, judgment, and reactions, so it is important to avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how Phenergan affects you. It is also recommended to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Phenergan, as it can increase certain side effects.
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Phenergan's drug interactions
Phenergan, also known as promethazine, is an antihistamine sometimes used as a sleeping pill. It is also used to prevent motion sickness, and to treat nausea and vomiting or pain after surgery. It is available as a generic drug and is also found in combination with other medications such as phenylephrine (Prometh Hydrochloride), codeine (Prometh VC), or dextromethorphan (Promethazine DM).
Phenergan may interact with a wide range of medications and substances, causing medical problems or increasing side effects. It is important to consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking Phenergan with any other medication.
Drug Interactions
Phenergan is known to interact with at least 689 drugs, 13 disease states, and 2 alcohol/food interactions. The interactions range from major to moderate and minor. Some of the key drug classes that may interact with Phenergan include:
- Cold or allergy medicine
- Sedatives
- Narcotic pain medicine
- Sleeping pills
- Muscle relaxers
- Medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety
- Blood pressure medication
- Blood thinners
- Bronchodilators
- Bladder or urinary medications
- MAO inhibitors
- Medicine to treat Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome, stomach ulcer, or irritable bowel syndrome
Specific Drugs
Some specific drugs that may interact with Phenergan include:
- Atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine)
- Belladonna (Donnatal)
- Benztropine (Cogentin)
- Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
- Methscopolamine (Pamine)
- Scopolamine (Transderm-Scop)
- Guanadrel (Hylorel)
- Guanethidine (Ismelin)
- Propranolol (Inderal)
- Oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol)
- Solifenacin (Vesicare)
- Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- Phenelzine (Nardil)
- Selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam)
Other Interactions
In addition to drug interactions, Phenergan may also interact with certain substances and conditions:
- Alcohol: Alcohol can increase the side effects of Phenergan and may enhance impairment, especially when used with the Phenergan suppository formulation.
- Anticholinergics: Concomitant use of other agents with anticholinergic properties should be undertaken with caution.
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI): Drug interactions, including an increased incidence of extrapyramidal effects, have been reported when used with Phenergan.
- Epinephrine: Should not be used to treat hypotension associated with Phenergan suppository overdose due to the potential to reverse epinephrine's vasopressor effect.
- Barbiturates and Narcotics: When given with Phenergan suppositories, the dose of these drugs should be reduced to avoid restlessness and motor hyperactivity.
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Phenergan's dosage
Phenergan, also known as promethazine, is an antihistamine sometimes used as a sleeping pill. It is also used to prevent and control motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. It is available in tablet and suppository form.
Phenergan is often taken at bedtime or before meals. For motion sickness, Phenergan is usually started within 1 hour before traveling. When used for surgery, Phenergan is usually taken the night before the procedure. The timing and dosage of Phenergan depend on the condition being treated. It is important to follow the directions on the prescription label and consult a doctor if any changes are required.
The average oral dose of Phenergan for adults is 25 mg taken before bedtime. A lower dose of 12.5 mg may be taken before meals and at bedtime if necessary. For children, the dosage is typically 12.5 to 25 mg, and it is based on weight, with adjustments made according to age and weight. For nausea and vomiting in children, the usual dose is 0.5 mg per pound of body weight.
Phenergan is contraindicated for children under 2 years of age. It is important to exercise caution when administering Phenergan to children 2 years of age and older. Elderly patients may also be more sensitive to the side effects of Phenergan, such as confusion and severe drowsiness. Therefore, dosage adjustments may be necessary for geriatric patients.
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Frequently asked questions
Phenergan is an antihistamine commonly used for allergy relief, nausea, travel sickness, and as a sleep aid. It is available as an oral tablet, an oral syrup, a compounding powder, in an injectable form, and as a suppository.
The main side effect of Phenergan is sedation. Other side effects include drowsiness, heart rate disturbances, dry mouth, confusion, tinnitus, double vision, anxiety, and dizziness.
Phenergan may interact with sleeping pills and cause medical problems or increase side effects. It is important to consult your doctor before taking Phenergan with any other medication.
Phenergan 25mg is available over the counter in the UK at GPhC-registered pharmacies. It can also be purchased online from registered pharmacies.
