Promethazine

Who is Promethazine for ?

Promethazine relieves itchy, red, irritated, watery eyes; runny nose; sneezing; and itchy skin caused by hay fever and allergies. It also is used for motion sickness, before and after surgery as a sedative to relieve apprehension, and to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting. this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Promethazine works in the brain to block the action of certain chemicals--including histamine--that trigger the symptoms of allergies and motion sickness. One of its most common side effects is drowsiness making it useful for sedation.

When should I be careful taking Promethazine ?

Before taking promethazine,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to promethazine or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially medications for depression, seizures, colds, or allergies; muscle relaxants; pain medication; sedatives; sleeping pills; tranquilizers; and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had difficulty urinating (an enlarged prostate), glaucoma, epilepsy (seizures), ulcers, asthma or lung disease, high blood pressure, or heart or liver disease.
• before giving promethazine to a child, tell the doctor and pharmacist if you have a family history of sudden infant death syndrome (crib death) or if you regularly have difficulty waking the child.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking promethazine, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking promethazine.
• you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
• remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.
• tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this drug.

Side Effects

Although side effects from promethazine are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• dry mouth
• drowsiness
• confusion
• fatigue
• difficulty coordinating movements
• stuffy nose

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• vision problems
• ringing in the ears
• tremors
• insomnia
• excitement
• restlessness
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• skin rash