Description

what is promethazine

Promethazine is an antihistamine that has a number of uses:

• To relieve allergic conditions such as hay fever and skin rashes.
• To prevent nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick), including when caused by motion sickness. It works by blocking certain chemicals (histamines) in your brain that can cause nausea and vomiting.
• To make you feel sleepy. It may be taken for a few days only to help promote sleep in adults with sleeping problems.

Furthermore, Promethazine is available as an injection, a liquid or tablets (10 mg and 25 mg). In New Zealand, promethazine liquid and tablets can be bought from a pharmacy without a prescription, after consultation with a pharmacist (pharmacist-only medicine).

Type of medicine	Also called
Belongs to groups of medicines called antihistamines	Allersoothe® Phenergan®

What is promethazine?

Promethazine is an antihistamine that has a number of uses:

• To relieve allergic conditions such as hay fever and skin rashes.
• To prevent nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick), including when caused by motion sickness. It works by blocking certain chemicals (histamines) in your brain that can cause nausea and vomiting.
• To make you feel sleepy. It may be taken for a few days only to help promote sleep in adults with sleeping problems.

Promethazine is available as an injection, a liquid or tablets (10 mg and 25 mg). In New Zealand, promethazine liquid and tablets can be bought from a pharmacy without a prescription, after consultation with a pharmacist (pharmacist-only medicine).

Promethazine must not be used for sedation of children (ie, to make children sleep. It can cause severe breathing problems).

Dose

Promethazine tablets are available in 2 strengths: 10 mg and 25 mg. The dose of promethazine depends on its use. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you on the best dose for you. The following is a guide.

• Allergies: One to three 25mg tablets taken as a single dose at night, or one to two 10mg tablets taken 2 to 3 times daily.
• Motion sickness: 25mg taken the night before travel and repeated after 6 to 8 hours on the following day if needed.
• Sedation: One to three 25mg tablets taken as a single dose at night.

Tylenol with codeine

Actavis Codeine, in any formulation, is a controlled substance. Listed as a Schedule II, III, and V drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) depending on the specific type of medication and the dose of codeine contained in it.

People who abuse the drug may attempt to crush, chew, snort, or inject the tablets. A common method of abuse is to combine codeine with soda (a mixture known as syrup, sizzurp, purple drank, barre, or lean) and sometimes hard candies as well. Some users mix codeine syrup with alcohol.

codeine side effects

Ongoing use of prescription actavis codeine medications may negatively impact multiple aspects of an individual’s health. Long-term health consequences of codeine include:

• Breathing problems during sleep, including sleep apnea.
• Heart problems with an increased danger of heart attack and heart failure.
  • Codeine appears to pose a higher risk for experiencing adverse cardiovascular events than hydrocodone.
• Nervous system problems like:
  • Higher pain sensitivity.
  • Heightened risk of falls and injury as a result of dizziness and impaired coordination.
• Endocrine/hormonal-related problems such as:
  • Low testosterone levels.
  • Sexual dysfunction.
  • Lowered sexual interest.
  • Osteoporosis.
  • Irregular periods.
  • Lactation, unrelated to childbirth.
  • Fatigue.
• Impaired immune system functioning.

The decreased respiratory drive associated with codeine abuse has the potential to affect the brain. When breathing is inadequate, the brain and other body tissues/organs may not receive enough oxygen. This situation, called hypoxia, can damage and deteriorate parts of the brain and may also result in a coma.

Opioid use has also been associated with parts of the brain relating to: 

• Decision-making skills.
• Stress response.
• Behavior regulation.

In addition to the physical health issues described, long-term opioid use can adversely affect an individual’s mental health and lead to higher rates of depression.

Some common effects also include

• Chronic constipation.
• Low sex drive.
• Irregular menstruation.
• Muscle tension as well as twitches.
• Tolerance, in which the person needs to use more of the drug to get the same effect as well as Physical dependence.
• Withdrawal symptoms when the person stops using, which can include cravings, abdominal cramps, runny nose, aching muscles and joints, fever, chills, sweating, restlessness, irritability, and depression.