Promethazine prescription

Promethazine

Generic Name: promethazine (rectal) (pro METH a zeen)
Brand Names: Phenadoz, Phenergan, Promethegan

What is the most important information I should know about promethazine?

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Promethazine rectal should not be used in a child younger than 2 years old. Promethazine can cause severe breathing problems or death in a child younger than 2. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions when giving this medicine to a child of any age.

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Do not take promethazine rectal by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.

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This medication comes with patient instructions for using the rectal suppository. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

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Try to empty your bowel and bladder just before using the promethazine rectal suppository or enema. Try to use the medicine at a time when you can lie down afterward and hold the medicine in. Avoid using the bathroom during this time. It may be best to use this medicine at bedtime.

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Remove the outer wrapper from the suppository before inserting it. Avoid handling the suppository too long or it will melt in your hands.

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Call your doctor immediately if you experience uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs. These could be early signs of dangerous side effects.

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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Promethazine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

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Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking promethazine rectal.

What is promethazine rectal?

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Promethazine is an antihistamine. It blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical histamine in your body.

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Promethazine is used to treat allergy symptoms such as itching, runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, hives, and itchy skin rashes.

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Promethazine also prevents motion sickness, and treats nausea and vomiting or pain after surgery. It is also used as a sedative or sleep aid.

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Promethazine rectal may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking promethazine rectal?

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Do not use promethazine rectal if you have asthma or other lung disease.

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Before using promethazine rectal, tell your doctor if you have:

epilepsy or another seizure disorder;

sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep);

glaucoma;

a stomach ulcer or digestive obstruction;

bone marrow disorder;

problems with urination;

high blood pressure or heart disease; or

liver disease.

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If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use promethazine rectal, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

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FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

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It is not known whether promethazine rectal passes into breast milk or if it could harm an unborn baby. Do not use promethazine rectal without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

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If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more sensitive to the side effects of promethazine rectal.

How should I use promethazine rectal?

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Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

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This medication comes with patient instructions for using the rectal suppository. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

•

Do not take promethazine rectal by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.

•

Try to empty your bowel and bladder just before using the promethazine suppository. It may be best to use this medicine at bedtime.

•

Remove the outer wrapper from the suppository before inserting it. Avoid handling the suppository too long or it will melt in your hands.

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For best results from the suppository, lie down after inserting it and hold in the suppository for a few minutes. The suppository will melt quickly once inserted and you should feel little or no discomfort while holding it in. Avoid using the bathroom just after you have inserted the suppository.

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Store the rectal suppositories at cool room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not refrigerate or freeze them.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Try to use the medicine at a time when you can lie down afterward and hold the medicine in. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

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Symptoms of a promethazine overdose may include severe drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, large pupils, flushing, nausea, vomiting, shallow breathing, and fainting.

What should I avoid while using promethazine rectal?

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Promethazine rectal can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

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Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of promethazine rectal.

What are the possible side effects of promethazine rectal?

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

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Stop using promethazine rectal and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

fever, muscle stiffness, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeat, sweating, fainting; or

tremors, twitching, or uncontrolled muscle movements in your face, arms, or legs.

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Continue using promethazine rectal and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, or confusion;

blurred vision, dry mouth;

nausea or vomiting; or

increased sensitivity to sunlight.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect promethazine rectal?

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Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

anxiety or sleep medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), temazepam (Restoril), or triazolam (Halcion);

medications for depression such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), or paroxetine (Paxil);

narcotics (pain killers) such as: meperidine (Demerol), morphine (MS Contin, MSIR, others), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet), hydrocodone (Lorcet, Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan), fentanyl (Duragesic), and codeine (Fiorinal, Fioricet, Tylenol #3, others);

other sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton, Luminal), amobarbital (Amytal) and secobarbital (Seconal); or

an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam);

atropine (Donnatal, and others), belladonna, clidinium (Quarzan), dicyclomine (Bentyl), glycopyrrolate (Robinul), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), methscopolamine (Pamine), and scopolamine (Transderm-Scop); or

drugs that make you sleepy (such as alcohol, cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety).

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There may be other drugs not listed that can affect promethazine rectal. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has more information about promethazine rectal written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum'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. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum 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.

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