Promethazine injection

What is this medicine?

PROMETHAZINE (proe METH a zeen) is an antihistamine. It is used to treat allergic reactions and to treat or prevent nausea and vomiting from illness or motion sickness. It is also used to make you sleep before surgery, and to help treat pain or nausea after surgery.

How should I use this medicine?

This medicine is for injection into a muscle, or into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. This medicine should not be given to infants and children younger than 2 years old.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• breathing problems

• burning, pain, redness or irritation at site where injected

• changes in vision

• confusion

• fever, chills, sore throat

• pain, redness, or irritation at site where injected

• seizures

• signs and symptoms of high blood sugar such as being more thirsty or hungry or having to urinate more than normal. You may also feel very tired or have blurry vision.

• signs and symptoms of liver injury like dark yellow or brown urine; general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms; light-colored stools; loss of appetite; nausea; right upper belly pain; unusually weak or tired; yellowing of the eyes or skin

• signs and symptoms of low blood pressure like dizziness; feeling faint or lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired

• trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine

• trouble swallowing

• uncontrollable movements of the arms, face, head, mouth, neck, or upper body

• unusual bruising or bleeding

• unusually weak or tired

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• drowsiness

• dry mouth

• restlessness

What may interact with this medicine?

• alcohol

• antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold

• atropine

• certain medicines for anxiety or sleep

• certain medicines for bladder problems like oxybutynin, tolterodine

• certain medicines for depression like amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline

• certain medicines for Parkinson's disease like benztropine, trihexyphenidyl

• certain medicines for stomach problems like dicyclomine, hyoscyamine

• certain medicines for travel sickness like scopolamine

• epinephrine

• general anesthetics like halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol

• ipratropium

• MAOIs like Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate

• medicines for high blood pressure

• medicines for seizures like phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin

• medicines that relax muscles for surgery

• metoclopramide

• narcotic medicines for pain

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

Where should I keep my medicine?

This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• blockage in your bowel

• diabetes

• glaucoma

• have trouble controlling your muscles

• heart disease

• liver disease

• low blood counts, like low white cell, platelet, or red cell counts

• lung or breathing disease, like asthma

• Parkinson's disease

• prostate disease

• seizures

• stomach or intestine problems

• trouble passing urine

• an unusual or allergic reaction to promethazine, sulfites, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medicine.

Your healthcare professional will discuss with you the risks and the benefits of using this medicine. This medicine has caused serious side effects in some patients after it was injected into a vein. Watch closely for any signs or symptoms of a local reaction like burning, pain, redness, swelling, and blistering and tell your healthcare professional immediately if any occur. These symptoms may occur when you receive the injection or may occur hours or even days after the injection.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. To reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells, do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. Alcohol may increase dizziness and drowsiness. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water will help.

This medicine may cause dry eyes and blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses you may feel some discomfort. Lubricating drops may help. See your eye doctor if the problem does not go away or is severe.

Keep out of the sun, or wear protective clothing outdoors and use a sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or sun tanning beds or booths.

This medicine may increase blood sugar. Ask your health care provider if changes in diet or medicines are needed if you have diabetes.