Promazine

Generic name: Promazine [ PROE-ma-zeen ]
Drug classes: Phenothiazine antiemetics, Phenothiazine antipsychotics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 28, 2024.

Uses of Promazine:

• It is used to treat problems with how one acts.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Promazine?

All products:

• If you are allergic to promazine; any part of promazine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you are very sleepy.
• If you have recently drunk a lot of alcohol or taken a big amount of drugs that may slow your actions like phenobarbital or some pain drugs like oxycodone.
• If you have an adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma.
• If you are taking or will be taking another drug like this one.
• If you are taking any drugs that can cause a certain type of heartbeat that is not normal (prolonged QT interval). There are many drugs that can do this. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant. Do not use promazine in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
• If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take promazine.
• If the patient is a child. This medicine is not approved for use in children.

Liquid (syrup):

• If you have bone marrow disease.
• If you have rare hereditary health problems like glucose-galactose malabsorption, fructose intolerance, or sucrase-isomaltase deficiency.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with promazine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take promazine with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Promazine?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take promazine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how promazine affects you.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking promazine.
• Talk with your doctor before you use other drugs and natural products that slow your actions.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
• Tell your doctor if you have signs of high or low blood sugar like breath that smells like fruit, dizziness, fast breathing, fast heartbeat, feeling confused, feeling sleepy, feeling weak, flushing, headache, more thirsty or hungry, passing urine more often, shaking, or sweating.
• Low white blood cell counts have happened with drugs like this one. This may lead to a higher chance of infection. Rarely, infections have been deadly. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a low white blood cell count. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection like fever, chills, or sore throat.
• Dizziness, sleepiness, and feeling less stable may happen with promazine. These may lead to falling, which can cause broken bones or other health problems.
• An unsafe heartbeat that is not normal (long QT on ECG) has happened with promazine. Sudden deaths have rarely happened in people taking promazine. Talk with the doctor.
• Do not stop taking promazine all of a sudden without calling your doctor. You may have a greater risk of side effects. If you need to stop promazine, you will want to slowly stop it as ordered by your doctor.
• You may get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen and wear clothing and eyewear that protects you from the sun.
• Be careful in hot weather or while being active. Drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.
• If you are 65 or older, use promazine with care. You could have more side effects.
• Taking promazine in the third trimester of pregnancy may lead to uncontrolled muscle movements and withdrawal in the newborn.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using promazine while you are pregnant.

How is this medicine (Promazine) best taken?

Use promazine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

All products:

• Keep taking promazine as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.

Liquid (syrup):

• Measure liquid doses carefully. Use the measuring device that comes with promazine. If there is none, ask the pharmacist for a device to measure promazine.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• Trouble controlling body movements, twitching, change in balance, trouble swallowing or speaking.
• Seizures.
• Restlessness.
• Feeling cold.
• Not able to pass urine.
• Change in eyesight.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Coughing up blood.
• Shortness of breath.
• Swelling, warmth, or pain in the leg or arm.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Not able to sleep.
• Shakiness, trouble moving around, or stiffness.
• Muscle weakness.
• Enlarged breasts.
• Nipple discharge.
• For women, no period.
• Not able to get or keep an erection.
• Ejaculation problems.
• Weight gain.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Some people may get a severe muscle problem called tardive dyskinesia. This problem may lessen or go away after stopping promazine, but it may not go away. The risk is greater with diabetes and in older adults, especially older women. The risk is greater with longer use or higher doses, but it may also occur after short-term use with low doses. Call your doctor right away if you have trouble controlling body movements or problems with your tongue, face, mouth, or jaw like tongue sticking out, puffing cheeks, mouth puckering, or chewing.
• A very bad and sometimes deadly health problem called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may happen. Call your doctor right away if you have any fever, muscle cramps or stiffness, dizziness, very bad headache, confusion, change in thinking, fast heartbeat, heartbeat that does not feel normal, or are sweating a lot.

Related/similar drugs

What are some other side effects of Promazine?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Stuffy nose.
• Feeling sleepy.
• Dizziness.
• Headache.
• Upset stomach.
• Dry mouth.
• Constipation.
• Feeling nervous and excitable.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Promazine?

All products:

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Liquid (syrup):

• Protect from light.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer