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Phenergan
promethazine
Black Box Warnings .
Respiratory Depression
contraindicated in patients <2 yo due to cases of respiratory depression, some fatal, at wide-range of wt-based doses; in patients 2 yo and older, use with caution at lowest effective dose, avoid combo with other respiratory depressant drugs
Severe Tissue Injury, Gangrene
severe chemical irritation and tissue damage, including gangrene, tissue necrosis, and thrombophlebitis have occurred regardless of parenteral administration route; some cases require surgical intervention, including fasciotomy, skin graft, and/or amputation; IV injection at concentration >1 mg per mL, intra-arterial injection, and SC injection contraindicated; IM route preferred; if must use IV, dilute through IV catheter inserted in large vein, preferably central venous catheter; immediately D/C if pain occurs, evaluate for possible arterial injection or perivascular extravasation, and initiate appropriate medical management
Adult Dosing .
Dosage forms: INJ: 25 mg per mL, 50 mg per mL
Dosage Form Details
- [TAB, SOLUTION forms discontinued in US for this brand; see generic]
allergic conditions
- [6.25-25 mg PO tid-qid prn]
- Max: 100 mg/day; Alt: 6.25-25 mg IM/IV tid-qid prn; Info: give before meals and bedtime; if must give injectable, IM preferred over IV; may give second IM/IV dose 2h after first dose
motion sickness
- [25 mg PO bid]
- Start: 0.5-1h prior to travel; Alt: 25 mg IM bid
nausea/vomiting
- [12.5-25 mg PO q4-6h]
- Max: 50 mg/dose PO/IM; 25 mg/dose IV; 100 mg/day; Alt: 12.5-25 mg IM/IV q4-6h; Info: if must give injectable, IM preferred over IV
sedation
- [25-50 mg PO x1]
- Max: 50 mg/dose PO/IM; 25 mg/dose IV; Alt: 25-50 mg IM x1; 25 mg IV x1; Info: if must give injectable, IM preferred over IV
urticaria
- [6.25-25 mg PO tid-qid prn]
- Max: 100 mg/day; Alt: 6.25-25 mg IM/IV tid-qid prn; Info: give before meals and bedtime; if must give injectable, IM preferred over IV; may give second IM/IV dose 2h after first dose
breakthrough nausea/vomiting, chemo-related (off-label)
- [12.5-25 mg PO q4-6h]
- Info: search 'CINV' for epocrates Chemo-Induced Nausea & Vomiting in Adults decision tool
renal dosing
- [no adjustment]
- renal impairment: no adjustment
- HD/PD: no adjustment; no supplement
hepatic dosing
- [see below]
- hepatic impairment: not defined, caution advised
Peds Dosing .
- Dosage forms: INJ: 25 mg per mL, 50 mg per mL
Dosage Form Details
- [TAB, SOLUTION forms discontinued in US for this brand; see generic]
allergic conditions
- [2 yo and older]
- Dose: 0.1 mg/kg/dose PO q6h prn; Max: 12.5 mg/dose during the day; 25 mg/dose qhs; 100 mg/day; Info: may give additional dose of up to 0.5 mg/kg/dose PO qhs; use lowest effective dose; avoid other respiratory depressants
motion sickness
- [2 yo and older]
- Dose: 0.5 mg/kg/dose PO q12h; Start: 0.5-1h prior to travel; Max: 25 mg/dose; 100 mg/day; Alt: 0.5 mg/kg/dose IM q12h; Info: use lowest effective dose; avoid other respiratory depressants
nausea/vomiting
- [2 yo and older]
- Dose: 0.25-1 mg/kg/dose PO q4-6h prn; Max: 25 mg/dose; 100 mg/day; Alt: 0.25-1 mg/kg/dose IM/IV q4-6h prn; Info: if must give injectable, IM preferred over IV; use lowest effective dose; avoid other respiratory depressants
sedation
- [2 yo and older]
- Dose: 12.5-25 mg PO x1; Max: 25 mg/dose; Alt: 12.5-25 mg IM/IV x1; Info: if must give injectable, IM preferred over IV; use lowest effective dose; avoid other respiratory depressants
urticaria
- [2 yo and older]
- Dose: 0.1 mg/kg/dose PO q6h prn; Max: 12.5 mg/dose during the day; 25 mg/dose qhs; 100 mg/day; Info: may give additional dose of up to 0.5 mg/kg/dose PO qhs; use lowest effective dose; avoid other respiratory depressants
renal dosing
- [not defined]
- renal impairment: consider adult renal dosing for guidance
- HD/PD: consider adult renal dosing for guidance
hepatic dosing
- [see below]
- hepatic impairment: not defined, caution advised
Contraindications / Cautions .
- hypersensitivity to drug or ingredient
- hypersensitivity to phenothiazines
- SC use
- intra-arterial use
- periarterial use
- IV use (>1 mg per mL)
- comatose patients
- patients <2 yo
- respiratory depression
- Reye syndrome
- avoid: sun exposure
- avoid: UV light exposure, artificial
- caution: hypersensitivity to sulfites (INJ form)
- caution: IV use (<1 mg per mL)
- caution: elderly patients
- caution: peds patients
- caution: CNS depressant use, concurrent
- caution: hepatic impairment
- caution: seizure disorder
- caution: seizure threshold, lowered
- caution: angle-closure glaucoma, controlled
- caution: asthma
- caution: COPD
- caution: cardiac disease
- caution: bone marrow depression
- caution: GI obstruction
- caution: GU obstruction
- caution: prostatic hypertrophy
- caution: environmental temperature, high
- caution: electrolyte abnormalities
- caution: long QT syndrome, congenital
- caution: QT prolongation
- caution: QT prolongation family history
- caution: torsades de pointes history
- caution: ventricular arrhythmia
- caution: bradycardia
- caution: MI, recent
- caution: CHF
Drug Interactions .
Overview
promethazine
phenothiazine
- anticholinergic effects
- CNS depression
- decreases central histamine effects
- dopamine antagonist
- extrapyramidal effects
- hypotensive effects
- lowers seizure threshold
- photosensitivity
- prolongs QT interval (conditional)
Contraindicated
- cisapride
- pimozide
- potassium chloride
- potassium citrate
- thioridazine
Avoid/Use Alternative
- 5-HTP
- aclidinium inhaled
- aldesleukin
- alfentanil
- allopurinol
- almotriptan
- alprazolam
- amantadine
- amifampridine
- aminolevulinic acid topical
- amitriptyline
- amoxapine
- apomorphine
- apraclonidine ophthalmic
- aripiprazole bimonthly injection
- aripiprazole lauroxil
- aripiprazole monthly injection
- aripiprazole oral
- arsenic trioxide
- asenapine
- baclofen
- baclofen intrathecal
- bedaquiline
- brexpiprazole
- brimonidine ophthalmic
- brimonidine topical
- brivaracetam
- bromocriptine
- brompheniramine
- buprenorphine
- buspirone
- butalbital
- butorphanol
- cabergoline
- cannabidiol
- cannabis
- carbamazepine
- carbinoxamine
- cariprazine
- carisoprodol
- cenobamate
- cetirizine
- chamomile, German
- chlophedianol
- chlorcyclizine
- chlordiazepoxide
- chlorpheniramine
- chlorpromazine
- chlorzoxazone
- citalopram
- clemastine
- clobazam
- clomipramine
- clonazepam
- clonidine
- clorazepate
- clozapine
- codeine
- crizotinib
- cyclobenzaprine
- cyproheptadine
- dantrolene
- daridorexant
- darifenacin
- desflurane
- desipramine
- desvenlafaxine
- deutetrabenazine
- dexbrompheniramine
- dexchlorpheniramine
- dexmedetomidine injection
- diazepam
- dichlorphenamide
- difelikefalin
- difenoxin
- dihydrocodeine
- dimenhydrinate
- diphenhydramine
- diphenoxylate
- domperidone
- doxepin
- doxepin topical
- doxylamine
- dronabinol
- dronedarone
- droperidol
- duloxetine
- efavirenz
- eletriptan
- elinzanetant
- eluxadoline
- entacapone
- entrectinib
- ephedra
- epinephrine
- escitalopram
- esketamine
- eslicarbazepine acetate
- estazolam
- eszopiclone
- ethanol (alcoholic beverage)
- ethanol (in some formulations)
- ethanol injection
- ethosuximide
- etomidate
- felbamate
- fenfluramine
- fentanyl
- fesoterodine
- fexinidazole
- flibanserin
- fluoxetine
- fluphenazine
- flurazepam
- fluvoxamine
- fosfomycin injection
- foslevodopa
- fosphenytoin
- frovatriptan
- gabapentin
- gabapentin enacarbil
- ganaxolone
- ginkgo
- glofitamab
- glucagon
- glycopyrrolate
- glycopyrronium topical
- guanfacine
- haloperidol
- hydrocodone
- hydromorphone
- hydroxychloroquine
- hydroxyzine
- hyoscyamine
- ifosfamide
- iloperidone
- imipramine
- isocarboxazid
- isoflurane
- kava
- ketamine
- kratom
- lacosamide
- lamotrigine
- lefamulin
- lemborexant
- levetiracetam
- levocetirizine
- levodopa
- levomilnacipran
- levorphanol
- linvoseltamab
- lofexidine
- lonafarnib
- lorazepam
- loxapine
- lumateperone
- lurasidone
- meclizine
- melatonin
- meperidine
- meprobamate
- metaxalone
- methadone
- methocarbamol
- methohexital
- methsuximide
- methyldopa
- metoclopramide
- metyrapone
- metyrosine
- midazolam
- milnacipran
- milsaperidone
- mirtazapine
- mitotane
- mobocertinib
- molindone
- morphine
- mosunetuzumab
- mycophenolate mofetil
- nalbuphine
- naltrexone
- naratriptan
- nefazodone
- nelarabine
- nortriptyline
- olanzapine
- oliceridine
- opicapone
- opium
- orphenadrine
- oxazepam
- oxcarbazepine
- oxybate
- oxybutynin
- oxycodone
- oxymorphone
- paliperidone
- paroxetine
- passion flower
- pentazocine
- pentobarbital
- perampanel
- perphenazine
- phenelzine
- pheniramine
- phenobarbital
- phenytoin
- pitolisant
- porfimer
- pramipexole
- pramlintide
- pregabalin
- primidone
- procarbazine
- prochlorperazine
- propofol
- protriptyline
- pyrilamine
- quazepam
- quetiapine
- quizartinib
- ramelteon
- rasagiline
- remifentanil
- remimazolam
- repotrectinib
- revefenacin inhaled
- risperidone
- rivastigmine
- rizatriptan
- ropeginterferon alfa-2b
- ropinirole
- rotigotine transdermal
- rufinamide
- safinamide
- scopolamine
- selegiline
- selegiline transdermal
- selinexor
- sertraline
- sevoflurane
- sofpironium topical
- solifenacin
- sotalol
- stiripentol
- sufentanil
- sumatriptan
- suvorexant
- tapentadol
- tasimelteon
- temazepam
- tetrabenazine
- thalidomide
- thiotepa
- thiothixene
- tiagabine
- tizanidine
- tolcapone
- tolterodine
- topiramate
- toremifene
- tradipitant
- tramadol
- tranylcypromine
- trazodone
- tretinoin topical
- triazolam
- trifluoperazine
- trihexyphenidyl
- trimethobenzamide
- trimipramine
- triprolidine
- trospium
- valbenazine
- valerian
- valproic acid
- vandetanib
- venlafaxine
- vigabatrin
- vilazodone
- viloxazine
- zaleplon
- ziconotide
- ziprasidone
- zolmitriptan
- zolpidem
- zonisamide
- zuranolone
Monitor/Modify Tx
- acebutolol
- adagrasib
- alfuzosin
- aliskiren
- alprostadil intracavernous
- amifostine
- amiloride
- amiodarone
- amlodipine
- anagrelide
- apalutamide
- aprocitentan
- artemether/lumefantrine
- articaine
- atenolol
- avanafil
- azilsartan medoxomil
- azithromycin
- benazepril
- berberine
- betaxolol
- betaxolol ophthalmic
- bethanechol
- bexagliflozin
- bisoprolol
- bortezomib
- bumetanide
- bupivacaine
- bupivacaine liposomal
- bupropion
- cabozantinib
- canagliflozin
- candesartan cilexetil
- captopril
- carteolol ophthalmic
- carvedilol
- ceritinib
- chloroprocaine
- chloroquine
- chlorothiazide
- chlorthalidone
- cilostazol
- clarithromycin
- clevidipine
- clofarabine
- clofazimine
- coenzyme Q-10
- dapagliflozin
- degarelix
- denileukin diftitox
- dexmedetomidine
- diltiazem
- dinutuximab
- dipyridamole
- disopyramide
- dofetilide
- donepezil
- dordaviprone
- doxazosin
- empagliflozin
- enalapril
- enalaprilat
- encorafenib
- epirubicin
- eplerenone
- epoprostenol
- eribulin
- ertugliflozin
- erythromycin
- esmolol
- ethacrynic acid
- etripamil nasal
- felodipine
- fenoldopam
- ferumoxytol
- flaxseed
- flecainide
- fluorouracil
- fosinopril
- furosemide
- garlic
- gilteritinib
- glasdegib
- goserelin
- histrelin
- hydralazine
- hydrochlorothiazide
- ibutilide
- iloprost
- indapamide
- inotuzumab ozogamicin
- iohexol
- iopamidol
- irbesartan
- iron sucrose
- isosorbide dinitrate
- isosorbide mononitrate
- isradipine
- ivosidenib
- labetalol
- landiolol
- leuprolide
- levobunolol ophthalmic
- levofloxacin
- levoketoconazole
- lidocaine
- lisinopril
- losartan
- lubiprostone
- macimorelin
- magnesium sulfate
- maraviroc
- mepivacaine
- methylene blue injection
- metolazone
- metoprolol
- milrinone
- minoxidil
- moexipril
- moxifloxacin
- nadolol
- nattokinase
- naxitamab
- nebivolol
- niacin (vitamin B3)
- nicardipine
- nifedipine
- nilotinib
- nimodipine
- nisoldipine
- nitric oxide
- nitrite
- nitroglycerin
- nitroprusside
- obinutuzumab
- olmesartan medoxomil
- ondansetron
- osimertinib
- pacritinib
- palonosetron
- palopegteriparatide
- pasireotide
- pentamidine
- perindopril
- phenoxybenzamine
- phentolamine
- pindolol
- prazosin
- procainamide
- propafenone
- propranolol
- quinapril
- quinidine (antiarrhythmic)
- quinidine (CYP2D6 inhibitor)
- quinine
- ramipril
- revumenib
- ribociclib
- riociguat
- romidepsin
- ropivacaine
- rucaparib
- sacubitril
- selpercatinib
- sildenafil
- silodosin
- sodium ferric gluconate complex
- sotagliflozin
- sparsentan
- spironolactone
- tadalafil
- tagraxofusp
- taletrectinib
- tamsulosin
- taurine
- telavancin
- telmisartan
- terazosin
- timolol
- timolol ophthalmic
- torsemide
- trandolapril
- treprostinil
- triamterene
- triclabendazole
- trifluridine
- triptorelin
- valsartan
- vardenafil
- vemurafenib
- verapamil
- vosoritide
- warfarin
- yohimbe
- ziftomenib
Caution Advised
- aceclidine ophthalmic
- acetazolamide
- acitretin
- acyclovir
- alosetron
- aminophylline
- amoxicillin
- amphetamine
- ampicillin
- atropine
- atropine ophthalmic
- axicabtagene ciloleucel
- barium
- belladonna alkaloids
- benzphetamine
- benztropine
- betamethasone
- botulinum toxin
- brexucabtagene autoleucel
- busulfan
- cefazolin
- cefepime
- cefiderocol
- ceftaroline
- ceftazidime
- ceftobiprole
- cevimeline
- chasteberry
- chlorambucil
- ciltacabtagene autoleucel
- ciprofloxacin
- cisatracurium
- clidinium
- cocaine
- cortisone
- cyclopentolate ophthalmic
- cycloserine
- cyclosporine
- dalfampridine
- darbepoetin alfa
- darolutamide
- deflazacort
- delafloxacin
- dexamethasone
- dexmethylphenidate
- dextroamphetamine
- dicloxacillin
- dicyclomine
- diethylpropion
- elivaldogene autotemcel
- enzalutamide
- epoetin alfa
- erenumab
- ertapenem
- flavoxate
- foscarnet
- galantamine
- ganciclovir
- glycopyrrolate inhaled
- homatropine
- hydrocortisone
- idecabtagene vicleucel
- imipenem
- interferon beta 1a
- interferon beta 1b
- ipratropium inhaled
- ipratropium nasal
- isoniazid
- levocarnitine
- lidocaine topical
- linezolid
- lisdexamfetamine
- lisocabtagene maraleucel
- lithium
- loperamide
- lorlatinib
- magnesium citrate
- mefloquine
- meropenem
- methamphetamine
- methotrexate
- methoxsalen
- methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
- methscopolamine
- methylprednisolone
- metronidazole
- mexiletine
- mirabegron
- nafarelin nasal
- nafcillin
- neostigmine
- obecabtagene autoleucel
- ofloxacin
- oxacillin
- peginterferon beta 1a
- penicillin G
- penicillin V
- phendimetrazine
- phentermine
- pilocarpine
- pilocarpine ophthalmic
- piperacillin
- polyethylene glycol
- polyethylene glycol/electrolytes
- potassium acid phosphate
- potassium gluconate
- potassium phosphate
- prednisolone
- prednisone
- pyridostigmine
- pyrimethamine
- sodium picosulfate
- solriamfetol
- sulfate bowel prep
- tacrolimus
- teclistamab
- terbutaline
- theophylline
- tinidazole
- tisagenlecleucel
- tranexamic acid
- treosulfan
- triamcinolone
- tropicamide ophthalmic
- umeclidinium inhaled
- vadadustat
- valacyclovir
- valganciclovir
- varenicline
- verteporfin
- vibegron
Adverse Reactions .
Serious Reactions
- tissue damage, extravasation-related (IV use)
- tissue damage, severe (IM use)
- apnea
- respiratory depression
- CNS depression
- seizures
- leukopenia
- thrombocytopenia
- agranulocytosis
- hallucinations
- extrapyramidal symptoms
- cholestatic jaundice
- neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- angioedema
- bradycardia
- tachycardia
- heat stroke
Common Reactions
- drowsiness
- sedation
- blurred vision
- dizziness
- confusion
- disorientation
- extrapyramidal symptoms
- xerostomia
- photosensitivity
- dermatitis
- rhinitis
- urinary retention
Safety/Monitoring .
Monitoring Parameters
CBC with diff, ophthalmic exam if prolonged tx
Look/Sound-Alike Drug Names
Phenergan confused with: Compazine; PHENobarbital; phenylephrine
promethazine confused with: Compazine; perphenazine; phenazopyridine; predniSONE; prochlorperazine
Pregnancy/Lactation .
Pregnancy
Clinical Summary
may use during pregnancy; risk of fetal harm low, though possible risk of neonatal platelet aggregation impairment when given within 2wk of delivery based on limited human data
Lactation
Clinical Summary
may use short-term while breastfeeding, otherwise weigh risk/benefit; no human data available, though possible risk of infant CNS and respiratory depression based on risk with direct use in patients <2 yo; no human data available, though theoretical decr. milk production based on decr. prolactin levels
Pharmacology .
Metabolism: for promethazine: liver; CYP450: 2D6 substrate
Excretion: for promethazine: urine, feces; Half-life: 7-14h
Subclass: Antiemetics, Phenothiazines ; Antihistamines, 1st generation ; Pruritus/Urticaria, Systemic Nonsteroidal Agents ; Vertigo/Motion Sickness
Mechanism of Action
for promethazine: non-selectively antagonizes central and peripheral histamine H1 receptors; possesses anticholinergic properties, resulting in antiemetic and sedative effects (phenothiazine)
Formulary .
No Formulary Selected
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