Promacot

Promethazine is a prescription medication used to treat allergic reactions and nausea. Promethazine belongs to a group of drugs called antihistamines. It blocks the effect of histamine, a chemical in the body that causes symptoms of allergic reactions. Promethazine also belongs to another group of drugs called antiemetics, which reduce feelings of nausea.

Promethazine comes as a tablet, oral solution (liquid), rectal suppository, and a liquid to be injected into a muscle.  It is usually taken once daily at bedtime or before meals every six to twelve hours as needed to relieve symptoms of allergy or nausea. 

Promacot is part of the drug classes:

• Antihistamines for topical use

• Phenothiazine derivatives

Medicines can interact with certain foods.  In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods.  In the case of promethazine, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving promethazine.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.  It is not known if promethazine is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

In the U.S.

• Phenergan
• Promacot

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet
• Syrup
• Elixir

Therapeutic Class: Gastrointestinal Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Phenothiazine

Chemical Class: Aliphatic

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 .

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds .

This medicine controls nausea and vomiting. For this reason, it may cover up some of the signs of overdose caused by other medicines or the symptoms of encephalopathy or Reye's syndrome. This will make it difficult for your doctor to diagnose these conditions. Make sure your doctor knows that you are taking this medicine .

Stop using promethazine and call your doctor at once if you have 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 in very young children. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions when giving this medicine to a child of any age.

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 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.

Applies to promethazine: oral elixir, oral syrup, oral tablet

Other dosage forms:

• rectal suppository
• solution

Along with its needed effects, promethazine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Stop taking promethazine and get emergency help immediately if any of the following effects occur:

• Convulsions (seizures)
• difficult or unusually fast breathing
• fast heartbeat or irregular pulse
• high fever
• high or low (irregular) blood pressure
• increased sweating
• loss of bladder control
• severe muscle stiffness
• unusually pale skin
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking promethazine:

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blood in urine or stools
• bloody nose
• blurred vision
• chest pain or discomfort
• chills
• clay-colored stools
• confusion as to time, place, or person
• cough or hoarseness
• dark urine
• decreased awareness or responsiveness
• difficulty or troubled breathing
• double vision
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• fever with or without chills
• fixed position of eye
• headache
• heavier menstrual periods
• high fever
• holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
• hyperexcitability
• increased or decreased blood pressure
• increased sweating
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• itching
• large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• loss of appetite
• loss of bladder control
• lower back or side pain
• mimicry of speech or movements
• mutism
• nasal stuffiness
• nausea
• negativism
• nightmares
• noisy breathing
• not breathing
• painful or difficult urination
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• peculiar postures or movements, mannerisms or grimacing
• pinpoint red spots on skin
• seeing double
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• seizures
• severe muscle stiffness
• severe sleepiness
• shortness of breath
• skin rash
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth
• sticking out of tongue
• swollen glands
• tightness in chest
• tremors
• uncontrolled twisting movements of neck
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting of blood
• wheezing
• yellow eyes or skin

• Discouragement
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
• dry mouth
• excessive muscle tone
• feeling of warmth
• feeling sad or empty
• irritability
• lack of appetite
• loss of interest or pleasure
• muscle tension or tightness
• overactive reflexes
• pupils of eyes large and not moving or responding to light
• redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest
• shakiness and unsteady walk
• sudden death
• trouble concentrating
• trouble sleeping
• unconsciousness
• unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
• unusual paleness

Some side effects of promethazine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of skin
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears
• cracked, dry, scaly skin
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• excitation
• false or unusual sense of well-being
• hearing loss
• hives or welts
• increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight
• lack of coordination
• loss of strength or energy
• muscle pain or weakness
• redness or other discoloration of skin
• relaxed and calm
• sunburn
• swelling
• unable to sleep
• vomiting

• Promethazine's effects are noticeable within 20 minutes of oral administration. Its effects last for 4-6 hours, although they may persist for up to 12 hours in some people.

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