Promethazine Injection

What is this medication?

PROMETHAZINE (proe METH a zeen) prevents and treats the symptoms of an allergic reaction. It works by blocking histamine, a substance released by the body during an allergic reaction. It may also help you relax, go to sleep, and relieve nausea, vomiting, or pain before or after procedures. It can also treat motion sickness. It works by helping your nervous system calm down by blocking substances in the body that may cause nausea and vomiting. It belongs to a group of medications called antihistamines.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Anergan-50, Pentazine, Phenergan

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

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 medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• Breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medication is for injection into a muscle, or into a vein. It is given in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. This medication should not be given to infants and children younger than 2 years old.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

What may interact with this medication?

• Alcohol
• Antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold
• Atropine
• Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
• Certain medications for bladder problems like oxybutynin, tolterodine
• Certain medications for depression like amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline
• Certain medications for Parkinson's disease like benztropine, trihexyphenidyl
• Certain medications for stomach problems like dicyclomine, hyoscyamine
• Certain medications for travel sickness like scopolamine
• Epinephrine
• General anesthetics like halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
• Ipratropium
• MAOIs like Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
• Medications for high blood pressure
• Medications for seizures like phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin
• Medications that relax muscles for surgery
• Metoclopramide
• Narcotic medications for pain

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

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

Your care team will discuss with you the risks and the benefits of using this medication. This medication 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 care team 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 medication 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 medication may cause dry eyes and blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses you may feel some discomfort. Lubricating drops may help. See your care team 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 medication may increase blood sugar. Ask your care team if changes in diet or medications are needed if you have diabetes.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

• Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• CNS depression—slow or shallow breathing, shortness of breath, feeling faint, dizziness, confusion, trouble staying awake
• High fever stiff muscles, increased sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, and confusion, which may be signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Infection—fever, chills, cough, or sore throat
• Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
• Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
• Seizures
• Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
• Trouble passing urine
• Uncontrolled and repetitive body movements, muscle stiffness or spasms, tremors or shaking, loss of balance or coordination, restlessness, shuffling walk, which may be signs of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)

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

• Confusion
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Sensitivity to light
• Vivid dreams or nightmares

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

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

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.