Promethazine (Injection, Intravenous)

Generic name: Promethazine

Usage of Promethazine (Injection, Intravenous)

Promethazine injection is used to relieve or prevent some types of allergy or allergic reactions. It works by preventing the effects of a substance called histamine, which is produced by the body. Histamine can cause itching, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. It can sometimes close up the bronchial tubes (air passages of the lungs) and make breathing difficult.

Promethazine is also used to prevent and control motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. In addition, it may be used to help people go to sleep and control their pain or anxiety before or after surgery or other procedures.

Promethazine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

This medicine is only available with your doctor's prescription.

Promethazine (Injection, Intravenous) side effects

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

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Convulsions (seizures)

difficult or unusually fast breathing

fast heartbeat or irregular pulse

high fever

high or low blood pressure

increased sweating

loss of bladder control

severe muscle stiffness

unusually pale skin

unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach pain

black, tarry stools

blood in the urine

bloody nose

blurred vision

chest pain or discomfort

chills

clay-colored stools

cough or hoarseness

dark urine

decreased awareness or responsiveness

difficulty with speaking

dizziness

double vision

drooling

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

fever with or without chills

fixed position of the eye

headache

heavier menstrual periods

increases and decreases in blood pressure

itching

large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting

loss of appetite

loss of balance control

lower back or side pain

mimicry of speech or movements

muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness

mutism

nausea

negativism

noisy breathing

painful or difficult urination

peculiar postures or movements, mannerisms, or grimacing

pinpoint red spots on the skin

restlessness

seeing double

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

seizures

severe sleepiness

shortness of breath

shuffling walk

skin rash

slow or irregular heartbeat

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

stiffness of the limbs

swollen glands

tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, skin discoloration, and prominent superficial veins over the affected area

tightness in the chest

tremors

twisting movements of the body

uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back

unpleasant breath odor

unusual bleeding or bruising

vomiting of blood

wheezing

yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptom of overdose

Abnormal movements

confusion as to time, place, or person

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

feeling of warmth

holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact

hyperexcitability

irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing

nightmares

pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin

pupils of the eyes, large and not moving or responding to light

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

sweating

troubled breathing

unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness

Some side effects 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:

Incidence not known

Blistering, crusting, irritation, or reddening of the skin

continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears

discoloration of the skin

drowsiness

dry mouth

excitation

false or unusual sense of well-being

hearing loss

hives or welts

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

lack of coordination

loss of strength or energy

muscle pain or weakness

nasal stuffiness

nervousness

severe sunburn

sleeplessness

trouble sleeping

unable to sleep

vomiting

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Promethazine (Injection, Intravenous)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of promethazine injection in the pediatric population. Use of promethazine injection is not recommended in children younger than 2 years of age because of the increased risk of respiratory depression. Caution should be used when this medicine is given to children 2 years of age and older.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of promethazine injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medicine than in younger adults, and are more likely to have age-related heart or blood vessel disease or prostate problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving promethazine injection.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Bepridil

Bromopride

Calcium Oxybate

Cisapride

Dronedarone

Levoketoconazole

Magnesium Oxybate

Mesoridazine

Pimozide

Piperaquine

Potassium Citrate

Potassium Oxybate

Saquinavir

Sodium Oxybate

Sparfloxacin

Terfenadine

Thioridazine

Tranylcypromine

Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Adagrasib

Alfentanil

Alfuzosin

Alprazolam

Amantadine

Amiodarone

Amisulpride

Amitriptyline

Amoxapine

Anagrelide

Apomorphine

Aripiprazole

Aripiprazole Lauroxil

Arsenic Trioxide

Asenapine

Astemizole

Atazanavir

Azithromycin

Benzhydrocodone

Bromazepam

Buprenorphine

Bupropion

Buserelin

Butorphanol

Cannabidiol

Cannabis

Carbinoxamine

Ceritinib

Cetirizine

Chloroquine

Chlorpromazine

Ciprofloxacin

Citalopram

Clarithromycin

Clobazam

Clofazimine

Clomipramine

Clonazepam

Clothiapine

Clozapine

Codeine

Crizotinib

Dabrafenib

Daridorexant

Dasatinib

Degarelix

Delamanid

Desipramine

Deslorelin

Deutetrabenazine

Dexmedetomidine

Dihydrocodeine

Disopyramide

Dofetilide

Dolasetron

Domperidone

Donepezil

Doxylamine

Droperidol

Duloxetine

Efavirenz

Encorafenib

Entrectinib

Epinephrine

Erythromycin

Escitalopram

Esketamine

Etrasimod

Fentanyl

Fexinidazole

Fingolimod

Flecainide

Flibanserin

Fluconazole

Fluoxetine

Formoterol

Foscarnet

Fostemsavir

Gabapentin

Gabapentin Enacarbil

Gatifloxacin

Gemifloxacin

Gepirone

Glasdegib

Glucagon

Glycopyrrolate

Glycopyrronium Tosylate

Gonadorelin

Goserelin

Granisetron

Halofantrine

Haloperidol

Histrelin

Hydrocodone

Hydromorphone

Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxyzine

Ibutilide

Iloperidone

Imipramine

Inotuzumab Ozogamicin

Isradipine

Ivabradine

Ivosidenib

Ketamine

Ketoconazole

Lacosamide

Lapatinib

Lefamulin

Lemborexant

Lenvatinib

Leuprolide

Levocetirizine

Levofloxacin

Levorphanol

Lithium

Lofexidine

Lopinavir

Loxapine

Lumefantrine

Macimorelin

Meclizine

Mefloquine

Meperidine

Methacholine

Methadone

Metoclopramide

Metrizamide

Metronidazole

Midazolam

Mifepristone

Mirtazapine

Mobocertinib

Morphine

Morphine Sulfate Liposome

Moxifloxacin

Nafarelin

Nalbuphine

Nilotinib

Norfloxacin

Nortriptyline

Octreotide

Ofloxacin

Olanzapine

Ondansetron

Osilodrostat

Osimertinib

Oxaliplatin

Oxycodone

Oxymorphone

Ozanimod

Pacritinib

Paliperidone

Panobinostat

Paroxetine

Pasireotide

Pazopanib

Pentamidine

Pentazocine

Periciazine

Phenobarbital

Pimavanserin

Pitolisant

Ponesimod

Porfimer

Posaconazole

Pregabalin

Primidone

Procainamide

Procarbazine

Prochlorperazine

Propafenone

Protriptyline

Quetiapine

Quinine

Quizartinib

Ranolazine

Relugolix

Remifentanil

Remimazolam

Revefenacin

Ribociclib

Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft

Scopolamine

Secretin Human

Selpercatinib

Sertraline

Sevoflurane

Siponimod

Sodium Phosphate

Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic

Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic

Solifenacin

Sorafenib

Sotalol

Sufentanil

Sulpiride

Sunitinib

Tacrolimus

Tapentadol

Telavancin

Telithromycin

Tetrabenazine

Tiotropium

Topiramate

Toremifene

Tramadol

Trazodone

Triclabendazole

Trifluoperazine

Trimipramine

Triptorelin

Vandetanib

Vardenafil

Vemurafenib

Vilanterol

Vinflunine

Voclosporin

Voriconazole

Zolpidem

Zuclopenthixol

Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Aminolevulinic Acid

Belladonna

Belladonna Alkaloids

Betel Nut

Evening Primrose

Midodrine

Phenylalanine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

How to use Promethazine (Injection, Intravenous)

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given as a shot into a muscle or into a vein.

Your doctor will give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine contains sodium metabisulfite. Make sure your doctor knows if you or your child have had an allergic reaction to sulfite in the past.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have burning, persistent or worsening pain at the injection site; or any involuntary muscle movements after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you or your child 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 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; medicine for seizures or barbiturates; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you or your child are taking this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have 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.

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.

Promethazine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you or your child think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child are having convulsions, difficulty in breathing, fast heartbeat, high fever, high or low blood pressure, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, severe muscle stiffness, unusually pale skin, or tiredness. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach; pale stools; dark urine; loss of appetite; nausea; unusual tiredness or weakness; or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a liver problem.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you or your child are receiving 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.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

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