Promethazine (Phenergan, Promethegan) is a medication in suppository form used to treat nausea and vomiting and to relieve allergy symptoms. It is also sometimes used for sedation and should never be used in children under two years old. Each rectal suppository has either 12.5 mg or 25 mg. Promethazine HCI with binders such as cocoa butter, white wax, silicon dioxide and ascorbyl palmitate.
The average dose when treating allergies is 25 mg. before bed with a maximum dose of 12.5 mg before meals and at bedtime. For motion sickness the adult does is 25 mg. twice daily. Take the first dose one-half to one hour before leaving to travel. It can be repeated 8-12 hours later if necessary. The dose for nausea and vomiting is 25mg every four to six hours. For night time, presurgical or obstetrical sedation the dose is 25mg to 50 mg.
If you have some medical conditions it is best you don’t use Promethazine Suppositories and use other drugs for nausea and vomiting or allergy control instead. If your pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breast feeding. They should be avoided if you are taking certain prescription or nonprescription medicines, herbal preparations or dietary supplements. You can check with your health care provider about this. You will have to see him or her anyway as Promethazine is a prescription drug. Do not take Promethzaine either if you have bone marrow depression, alcoholism, heart problems, glaucoma, low blood pressure, live problems, prostate problems, Parkinson’s disease, seizures or if you have been in a coma.
There are some medications that may interact with Promethazine and your health care provider will have to adjust the dose of one or the other. These include trazodone, antibiotics, polypeptide, meperidine, metrizamide, MAOIs, lithium, and haldoperidol. The Promethazine Suppositories can increase the side effects of these drugs. Charcoal or lithium may decrease Promethazines Supposiotories effectiveness. ACE inhibitors, general anesthetics, methyldopa and tramadol taken with promethazine can cause lowered blood pressure and seizures.
Since Promethazine has a sedating effect there are some important safety considerations when taking. It may cause drowsiness or dizziness, if you drink alcohol it may get worse. Do not drive until you know how you react to it. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) can be caused by Promethazine Suppositories. Symptoms of this include fever, stiff muscles, fast or irregular heartbeat, sweating and confusion or abnormal thinking. Please note that this is a very rare occurrence. Promethazine can also cause you to become sunburned more easily.
Any medication can cause side effects and Promethazine does not cause more than any other drug. Still, some things to watch out for are nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, drowsiness, blurred vision and dizziness. There are some other much more severe side effects that are not common. These include severe allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest), excessive sweating, chills, fever, sore throat, fainting, hallucinations, mood changes (agitation, excitability, nervousness) seizures, persistent dizziness, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats (fast or slow), trouble sleeping, uncontrolled movement, bruising or bleeding easily and yellowing of the skin or eyes If you should experience any of these or any other side effects not listed contact your health care provider immediately. If you suspect an overdose, go to your nearest emergency room immediately.
Keep Promethazine Suppositories out of reach of children and pets. Store them in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C).
