Promethazine injection

Generic name: Promethazine (injection)
Brand names: Phenergan
Dosage form: injectable solution (25 mg/mL; 50 mg/mL)

Usage of Promethazine injection

Promethazine is used to treat or prevent nausea and vomiting caused by anesthesia or surgery, certain types of allergic reactions, pain caused by surgery or childbirth, motion sickness, and to sedate patients before surgery or medical procedures.

Promethazine injection is usually given when a person cannot take the medication orally (by mouth).

Promethazine injection may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Promethazine injection 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.

Promethazine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

pain, burning, irritation, or skin changes where the injection was given;

severe pain, swelling, numbness, cold feeling, or discoloration in your fingers or toes;

weak or shallow breathing;

hallucinations;

uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement);

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums);

sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing; or

severe nervous system reaction--very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.

Common side effects of promethazine may include:

drowsiness, dizziness;

ringing in your ears;

double vision;

feeling nervous;

dry mouth; or

tiredness, sleep problems (insomnia).

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 Promethazine injection

You should not receive promethazine if you are allergic to promethazine or to similar medicines such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, mesoridazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine, or trifluoperazine.

Promethazine should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old. Promethazine can cause severe breathing problems or death in very young children.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, or other breathing disorder;

a sulfite allergy;

a history of seizures;

a weak immune system (bone marrow depression);

glaucoma;

enlarged prostate or problems with urination;

stomach ulcer or obstruction;

heart disease or high blood pressure;

liver disease; or

if you have ever had a serious side effect while using promethazine or any other phenothiazine.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How to use Promethazine injection

Promethazine is injected deep into a muscle. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when promethazine is injected.

Promethazine injection is usually given for only a short time until no longer needed or until you can take promethazine by mouth.

This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you have recently received promethazine injection.

Warnings

Promethazine should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old. Promethazine can cause severe breathing problems or death in very young children.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when promethazine is injected.

Call your doctor at once if you later develop symptoms throughout your body, such as: severe pain, burning, swelling, numbness, cold feeling, severe irritation, skin changes, or discoloration in your fingers or toes.

What other drugs will affect Promethazine injection

Using promethazine injection with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Other drugs may affect promethazine injection, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

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.