Promethazine and Headaches: What Users Say

• MMK...
• December 2, 2019

For Sedation "I’ve been familiar with promethazine since I was a baby (now 27). Nowadays, I work 1-3 x 12-hour overnight shifts per week and suffer terrible allergies. Before going on Dymista for my hay fever, I would take 10-25 mg of Phenergan each night (or day depending on if I’m working) with a 2 mg SR melatonin, and to be honest, after a week of continuous use, the Phenergan no longer sedates me (down-regulated receptors I think?). However, if I take a break from it, one 10 mg will knock me out in an hour. I sleep deeply and feel groggy the next day. It also helps my anxiety and the nausea I sometimes get with melatonin. However, there are side effects: headaches, fatigue, and because it relaxes the muscles in sleep, mild sleep apnea. I sometimes wake from dreams, gagging/dry retching, or gasping for air. I also suffer from VCD and find I’m more susceptible to attacks when regularly taking Phenergan. I read somewhere that neuroleptic drugs can do this. So now I take it if needed."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2020

For Sedation "Have taken promethazine for 3 nights, have been struggling to sleep for a couple of months now. Has done nothing but give me a slight headache around my temples. If anything, I feel like this has kept me awake."

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2010

Promethazine for Vertigo "I have Meniere's. Phenergan seemed to help for about 2 hours, followed by an urge to throw up and a horrible headache. I also had to unscrew the fluorescent bulbs above my desk at work, it just felt like a rollercoaster. I felt better when I was moving, but when I stopped, I was still moving! The ENT switched me to 1 mg Ativan, which worked (finally!), but it made me sleepy until I got used to it."

• Fin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2023

For Sedation "Literally only been taking it for three days, and my insomnia is actually worse than it was beforehand. I was told it would only take 30 minutes to kick in, but I tossed and turned for up to 3 hours, then woke up every hour or so for absolutely no reason. I'm honestly not sure if I want to continue taking it because I'm even more exhausted than I was previously, with a wicked headache and dry mouth to boot. Its only saving grace is that it might help deal with some of the nausea that comes with starting a new antidepressant, but even then I'm doubtful it will."

• B3t...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 10, 2023

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "As a type 1 diabetic, I occasionally get nausea and/or vomiting with low blood sugar. If blood sugar levels are severely low, you may feel nausea and something similar to a migraine headache, in my case, with locking-tight neck muscles. It is hard to get blood sugar levels up when you are vomiting. I have found a Phenergan suppository is the only thing that works for me during these episodes. It works very quickly to stop nausea and gives me enough time to eat before making me sleepy. I have been diabetic for more than 40 years, so it is not as though I am inexperienced, and I have both an insulin pump and blood testing equipment with which to check my glucose levels before I ever consider going to sleep. I do not recall ever being truly 'knocked out' long term, but asleep for a few hours, long enough for the headache and tight neck muscles to subside."

• ski...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2018

For Sedation "This is the worst drug I've ever taken. Headaches, tongue swelling, eyelids swelling, and a rash on them. I've got sore legs, sore arms, and feel so ill. My doctor took me off Zopiclone and replaced it with this medicine. I wouldn't recommend this drug to anybody or give it to a patient with mental health problems."

• Boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2021

For Sedation "My doctor said I should try these instead of the usual zopiclone I have been prescribed for severe bouts of insomnia. I took two 25 mg tablets, and they took over two hours to start making me sleepy. I still woke up a few times but went back to sleep, and when it was time to get up for work, I was so groggy, weak, and disoriented I had to call in sick. The grogginess and malaise lasted into the evening. I don't think I'll be taking them again, the grogginess is way too much. Zopiclone knocked me out straight and didn't make me as groggy the next day, even though they made me get a headache and feel irritable. I prefer that to the severe groggy feeling."

• LCa...
• December 22, 2010

For Nausea/Vomiting "By far the best and non-addictive medication for motion sickness or vomiting. I know you shouldn't do this, but if you do end up consuming too much food or 'drink' and feel sick, take half of these and drink a couple of full glasses of room temp. water, and in 15 minutes, it's all over with. Make sure you read all the ingredients before consuming. Good for massive headaches as well."

• Wal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2023

Promethazine "I have suffered bouts of severe stress, anxiety, and being unable to sleep on and off for years, sometimes a year being okay then ill again. Recently, I started taking Phenergan to help me sleep (10 mg tablets). I started off with one tablet in the daytime to see how my body reacted to it. Within 20 minutes, my anxiety reduced and my nausea went completely. In an hour, I was very tired but stayed awake. At night, I then took two (10 mg) tablets, I slept great and woke up without a headache. I still had anxiety and nausea, so I took one tablet in the morning, it worked within 10 minutes (for nausea and anxiety). Then at night, I took only 1 tablet instead of 2, I still slept great with no side effects and it took 1 hour 30 minutes to get me to sleep. I totally recommend them, BUT read the leaflet, it does say to start off low and then increase if need be. You must also be careful if you are taking other drugs, even herbal pills! And I wouldn't drive if you are taking them during the day for hay fever, etc."

• Jk1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2019

For Anaphylaxis "So I had an extremely bad reaction to betahistine that I got prescribed for dizziness. My face, lips, and tongue got swollen up. I was having sensitivity to light and noise. Was puking and diarrheaing the whole time. Got a majorly hot head and headache. Got weak, tingly, and twitchy. Was having trouble breathing for 2 days and didn’t go into emergency until the next day, and they did nothing to help. I was feeling a little less hypersensitive the next day but still so dizzy and still having diarrhea and cramps. I couldn’t walk, so I went to emergency again. They gave me promethazine and it’s kind of helping the dizziness but still feeling horrible from that reaction."