Promethazine
About Promethazine
Promethazine belongs to the class of drugs called antihistamines used to prevent or treat symptoms of allergic conditions such as hay fever (seasonal allergies), allergic skin reactions such as itching or hives (itchy, raised bumps on the skin), allergic conjunctivitis (redness and irritation in the membrane that covers the eye) and other types of allergy. Also, it is used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting after surgery due to certain types of anaesthesia and motion sickness. Additionally, Promethazine is used for postoperative, preoperative, and obstetric (during labour) sedation. An allergy occurs when foreign elements, known as allergens, attack and invade our body, thereby causing the release of histamine (a chemical messenger) that causes swelling, inflammation, redness, itchiness, and watery nose and eyes.
Promethazine contains Promethazine, an antihistamine (anti-allergic drug) that works by blocking the action of histamine, a substance responsible for causing allergic reactions. It helps relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, running nose, watery eyes, itching, swelling, and congestion or stiffness. Also, it blocks the histamine receptors in the vomiting centre in the brain and prevents nausea and vomiting. Additionally, Promethazine possesses sedative effects and helps you feel relaxed before and after surgery.
Promethazine will be administered by a healthcare professional; do not self-administer. Promethazine may cause common side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, incoordination, lack of energy, increased blood pressure or occasional low blood pressure. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
If you are known to be allergic to Promethazine or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, inform your doctor before receiving Promethazine. Promethazine is not recommended for use in children below two years of age and in dehydrated children. Avoid alcohol consumption while receiving Promethazine as it may increase drowsiness and decrease mental alertness. Avoid driving if you experience any side effects that impair your physical or mental abilities after receiving Promethazine.
Uses of Promethazine
• Allergic Reactions: Promethazine treats allergic reactions to blood or plasma, reducing symptoms like itching, redness, and swelling, as well as other uncomplicated allergic conditions when oral therapy is impossible or contraindicated.
• Anaphylaxis Adjunct: Promethazine serves as an adjunct to epinephrine in anaphylaxis after acute symptoms are controlled.
• Sedation and Pain Management: Promethazine induces sedation for preoperative, postoperative, and obstetric care, and enhances pain control when used with analgesics.
• Motion Sickness: Promethazine alleviates motion sickness.
• Nausea and Vomiting: Promethazine prevents and controls nausea and vomiting associated with anesthesia and surgery.
Medicinal Benefits
Promethazine contains Promethazine, an antihistamine (anti-allergic drug) used to prevent or treat symptoms of allergic conditions such as hay fever (seasonal allergies), allergic skin reactions such as itching or hives (itchy, raised bumps on the skin), allergic conjunctivitis (redness and irritation in the membrane covering the eye) and other types of allergy. It blocks the action of histamine, a substance responsible for causing allergic reactions. Therefore, it helps relieve symptoms of allergy. Also, it blocks the histamine receptors in the vomiting centre in the brain and prevents nausea and vomiting after surgery due to certain types of anaesthesia and motion sickness. Additionally, Promethazine possesses sedative effects and helps you feel relaxed before and after surgery. Thus, it is used in postoperative, preoperative and obstetric (during labour) sedation. Promethazine may be used to treat a symptom of Parkinson’s disease known as oculogyric crises (uncontrolled rolling of eyeballs).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Promethazine
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Incoordination
- Lack of energy
- Increased blood pressure or occasional low blood pressure
Drug Warnings
If you are known to be allergic to Promethazine or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before receiving Promethazine. Promethazine is not recommended for children below two years of age and in dehydrated children. Avoid alcohol consumption while receiving Promethazine as it may increase drowsiness and decrease mental alertness. Avoid driving if you experience any side effects that impair your physical or mental abilities after receiving Promethazine. You may be advised to postpone skin allergy tests as Promethazine may suppress the reaction to the test allergens. Promethazine may give false positive or false negative results on pregnancy tests. Also, it may interact with blood sugar tests and not yield accurate results. Therefore, before undergoing any tests, please inform your doctor or lab technician that you are on treatment with Promethazine.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Inform your doctor if you are taking anticonvulsants, anticholinergics, antihypertensive agents (propranolol), CNS depressants, dopamine agonists (bromocriptine), antiparkinsonian drugs (levodopa), monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, phenothiazine derivatives and antiarrhythmic drug (quinidine).
Drug-Food Interaction: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have an enlarged prostate, coronary artery disease, narrow-angle glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye), bronchitis, emphysema (lung disease that causes shortness of breath), porphyria (hereditary condition), fits, jaundice, parkinsonism, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid hormones), myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness), asthma, an internal obstruction that prevents gastric flow, kidney or liver disease or not being able to urinate, inform your doctor before receiving Promethazine.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol while using Promethazine as it may increase drowsiness.
Pregnancy
cautionIf you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Promethazine. It is not recommended for use during the last two weeks before delivery as it may cause excitement and irritability in the newborn baby.
Breast Feeding
cautionThe amount of Promethazine excreted in breast milk is unknown. Promethazine should be used with caution in breastfeeding mothers. Hence, if you are a nursing mother, inform your doctor before receiving Promethazine. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
cautionPromethazine may cause drowsiness or affect concentration in some people. Therefore, avoid driving if you experience any side effects that impair your physical or mental abilities after receiving Promethazine.
Liver
consult your doctorIf you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease, inform your doctor before receiving Promethazine. Your doctor may adjust the dose or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Kidney
consult your doctorIf you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney diseases, inform your doctor before receiving Promethazine. Your doctor may adjust the dose or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Children
cautionPromethazine is not recommended for children below two years due to the risk of fatal respiratory depression. Promethazine should be avoided in dehydrated or acutely ill children. Also, it is not recommended for adolescents and children with signs and symptoms of Reye’s syndrome.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Allergies:
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water to prevent the spread of germs.
- Eat plenty of foods rich in good bacteria, like yoghurt, to improve overall health.
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
- Gargle with salt water for relief from sore throat.
- Avoid consumption of alcohol with Promethazine as it may cause tiredness, drowsiness or lack of concentration.
Nausea and vomiting:
- Eat a healthy low-fat diet, especially in small portions, as it will be easy to digest. Avoid eating over-sweet food and include more salty food, especially if you have been vomiting.
- Drink any other liquid at least 30 minutes after eating food.
- If the smell of the food makes you feel sick (vomit), do not cook food, as it may worsen your condition. Let someone else do the cooking or use prepared food from the freezer.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Allergy: It occurs when foreign elements/allergens attack and invade our body, thereby causing the release of histamines. This chemical messenger 'histamine' causes swelling, inflammation, redness, itchiness, itchy/watery nose and throat, and watery eyes. Allergies generally occur due to chemicals, air pollution, pet dander, dust, pollen hairs, seasonal allergies like hay fever, etc.
Nausea and vomiting: Nausea is a feeling of uneasiness in the stomach that often precedes vomiting. On the other hand, vomiting is the forcible, voluntary, or involuntary emptying of stomach contents through the mouth. In short, nausea and vomiting are not diseases but symptoms of many conditions, such as infections, motion sickness, an early stage of pregnancy, and gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying). A receptor located in the brain known as the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) controls vomiting.
FAQs
Promethazine is used to treat Allergic symptoms, nausea and vomiting.
Promethazine contains Promethazine, an antihistamine (anti-allergic drug) that works by blocking the action of histamine, a substance responsible for causing allergic reactions. It helps to provide relief from symptoms of allergy such as sneezing, running nose, watery eyes, itching, swelling, and congestion or stiffness.
Yes, Promethazine may be used to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery. Promethazine blocks histamine from binding to its receptors in the vomiting centre located in the brain and prevents nausea and vomiting.
Promethazine may interact with diagnostic pregnancy tests based on immunological reactions between HCG and anti-HCG and may increase glucose intolerance. Therefore, inform your doctor that you are on treatment with Promethazine before undergoing any tests.
