What is Anergan 50 (Promethazine)?

Promethazine is in a group of drugs called phenothiazines (feen-oh-THYE-oh-zeens).

Promethazine is used to treat or prevent nausea and vomiting caused by anesthesia or surgery, certain types of allergic reactions, pain caused by surgery or childbirth, and to sedate patients before surgery or medical procedures.

Promethazine injection is usually given when a person cannot take the medication orally (by mouth).

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Anergan 50 (Promethazine)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to promethazine or to similar medicines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), or trifluperazine (Stelazine).

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive this medication. Before you receive promethazine injection, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• asthma, sleep apnea, or other breathing problems
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• a weak immune system (bone marrow depression)
• glaucoma
• enlarged prostate or problems with urination
• stomach ulcer or obstruction
• heart disease or high blood pressure
• liver disease
• adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma)
• low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia); or
• if you have ever had a serious side effect while using promethazine or any other phenothiazine

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether promethazine is harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether promethazine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Anergan 50 Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Anergan 50 (Promethazine)?

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.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these serious side effects:

• twitching, or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs
• tremor (uncontrolled shaking), drooling, trouble swallowing, problems with balance or walking
• feeling restless, jittery, or agitated
• slow, shallow breathing, feeling like you might pass out
• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure)
• pain, burning, severe irritation, muscle weakness, or skin changes where the injection was given
• confusion, hallucinations, hysteria, seizure (black-out or convulsions)
• fast or slow heartbeats
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms
• urinating less than usual or not at all
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Less serious side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness, tired feeling
• ringing in your ears
• problems with balance or coordination
• blurred vision
• feeling nervous or shaky
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• skin rash or itching
• dry mouth, stuffy nose

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Anergan 50 Interactions

What other drugs affect Anergan 50 (Promethazine)?

Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can interact with promethazine and cause medical problems or increase side effects. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines.

Also tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:

• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine), belladonna (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop)
• blood pressure medication such as guanadrel (Hylorel), guanethidine (Ismelin), propranolol (Inderal), and others
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva)
• bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), solifenacin (Vesicare), and others
• an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam); or
• medicines to treat Parkinson’s disease, restless leg syndrome, or pituitary gland tumor (prolactinoma); or
• medicine to treat stomach ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome, such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), glycopyrrolate (Robinul), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), mepenzolate (Cantil), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine)

This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can interact with promethazine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I avoid while taking Anergan 50 (Promethazine)?

Promethazine injection 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. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Promethazine injection can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result.

Anergan 50 Dosage

How should I take Anergan 50 (Promethazine)?

Promethazine injection is given as an injection deep into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. This medication is usually given every 2 to 4 hours depending on the condition it is used for.

Promethazine injection is usually given for only a short time until no longer needed or until you can take promethazine by mouth.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you have recently received promethazine injection.

What happens if I overdose on Anergan 50 (Promethazine)?

Tell your care givers right away if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include slow or shallow breathing, extreme drowsiness or weakness, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What happens if I miss a dose of Anergan 50 (Promethazine)?

Since promethazine injection is given by a healthcare professional, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.

Edited from everydayhealth.com