Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine

Generic name: Codeine, Phenylephrine, And Promethazine
Dosage form: oral syrup (10 mg-5 mg-6.25 mg/5 mL)
Drug class: Upper respiratory combinations

Usage of Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine

Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine is a combination medicine used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, and sinus congestion caused by allergies or the common cold.

Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine contains a narcotic cough medicine and may be habit-forming.

Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing;

extreme drowsiness, confusion, feeling weak or limp;

a seizure;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

severe constipation, stomach pain;

little or no urination; or

adrenal gland problems--nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are overweight, malnourished, or debilitated.

Long-term use of opioid medication may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men or women. It is not known whether opioid effects on fertility are permanent.

Common side effects of codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine may include:

drowsiness, dizziness;

lack of energy, coordination problems;

headache, confusion;

dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation;

tremors, fast or irregular heart rate; or

feeling anxious, restless, nervous, or irritable.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine

You should not use codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine if you are allergic to codeine, phenylephrine, or promethazine, or if you have:

severe asthma or breathing problems;

a stomach or bowel obstruction (including paralytic ileus);

severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

severe coronary artery disease (clogged arteries);

narrow-angle glaucoma; or

if you are unable to urinate.

Do not give this medicine to anyone younger than 6 years old.

Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

lung disease or breathing problems;

a head injury, brain tumor, or seizure;

constipation, a bowel obstruction, or stomach problems;

problems with your bile duct, pancreas, or adrenal gland;

an enlarged prostate;

urination problems;

liver or kidney disease;

low blood pressure;

heart disease, a blood vessel disorder;

a drug addiction; or

if you have a fever and cough with mucus.

If you use codeine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.

Do not breast-feed. Codeine can pass into breast milk and may cause drowsiness, breathing problems, or death in a nursing baby.

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How to use Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine

Usual Adult Dose for Cough and Nasal Congestion:

Average effective dose: 5 mL orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed Maximum dose: 30 mL (promethazine 37.5 mg; phenylephrine: 30 mg; codeine: 60 mg) in 24 hours Comments: -Each 5 mL contains Promethazine 6.25 mg/Phenylephrine 5 mg/Codeine 10 mg.-Liquid preparations should be measured with an accurate milliliter measuring device. Uses: Temporary relief of coughs and upper respiratory symptoms, including nasal congestion, associated with allergy or the common cold.

Warnings

MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

Fatal side effects can occur if you use this medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.

What other drugs will affect Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine

You may have breathing problems or withdrawal symptoms if you start or stop taking certain other medicines. Tell your doctor if you also use certain antibiotics, antifungal medications, seizure medication, or medicines to treat HIV or hepatitis C.

Using this medicine with other drugs that slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines, especially:

a sedative like Xanax or Valium (diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, and others);

other cough, cold, or allergy medicines;

asthma medication;

pain medicine or a muscle relaxer;

medicine to treat depression, anxiety, mood disorders, or mental illness;

heart or blood pressure medication;

a diuretic or "water pill";

bladder or urinary medicines;

seizure medication; or

medicine to treat stomach problems.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.