Promethazine and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Jun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2020

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "I have Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. Believe me, I tried EVERYTHING for my nausea. Zofran, Omeprazole, Dramamine, etc. You name it, I've tried it. Nothing could stop my violent vomiting episodes. Phenergan suppositories are the only thing that could ever put a stop to my nausea and vomiting. The only problem is, it makes me very, very tired, so I can hardly function in classes if I have to take it during the day. But I'll take being a little 'out of it' over being so sick any day!"

• Mar...
• February 8, 2021

For Sedation "Experience on promethazine 25mg: slept undisturbed for a good 10 hours, found it super difficult to wake up, had to battle with my body to open my eyes, and all I wanted to do was carry on sleeping. Kept on falling back asleep and waking up. Felt sedated and tired all day afterwards. Experience on 12.5mg (approx) splitting the pill in half: Slept for a long time, but still had negative side effects when waking up, I was very angry at my partner who tried to wake me up as I just wanted to carry on sleeping. Felt tired during the day also, but not as bad. I find that my optimal dose is about 1/3 of the tablet - it helps me sleep, and the side effects of tiredness aren’t as bad in the morning. I do still experience agitation when woken up by someone else and would rather carry on sleeping, but it isn’t as severe, and usually after 20 mins or so I’m fully awake. The sedation/tiredness feeling during the day isn’t as prominent."

• KAn...
• January 18, 2017

For Sedation "I suffer with depression and PTSD. My psychiatrist didn't want to prescribe Zopiclone, as he said it's addictive, but told me to try promethazine, as he said it's not addictive and I can take it every night. I found it to be very effective. I do feel quite tired in the morning, but that's a small price to pay for continuous sleep. It hasn't stopped the nightmares, but I'm getting to sleep quicker and staying asleep longer - definitely worth trying!"

• Sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2019

For Sedation "I’ve taken Benzos on and off short-term for insomnia. I ended up with suspected withdrawals. My life was awful, and I felt I was going to die. Lost my job, couldn’t sleep, and the Dr wouldn’t give me any more benzos - thank goodness I remembered Phenergan! It can take a few hours to kick in, but I took 50mg and had a 10 hours sleep. I still wake a bit but am able to get back to sleep. Been taking for 14 days now and want to stop because it makes me drowsy the next day, and I’ve gained weight because it just makes me so tired, which I chose over the insomnia. But hopefully, I will be able to reduce the dose and then stop taking it and sleep without it soon. I read someone wrote to take it with Ashwagandha herbs, so I’m gonna try to find those tomorrow. Phenergan is great, though. If you have severe insomnia, then everything gets harder, and this OTC just really helps you get some sleep so you can keep going. I’m very grateful."

• CDi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2014

For Nausea/Vomiting "Got this prescribed to me when I had a bug a few months back. Recently, I have had recurring Clostridium difficile (infection in the stomach) for a few months. I take promethazine when I feel nauseated, and it always works in about half an hour. It makes me extremely tired, but it's worth it if it combats the nausea. That being said, it doesn't work for any stomach ailment other than nausea (pain, cramping, bloating). I love knowing it's around just in case I need it. (PS: If you are really going to throw up, it will come out the other end after promethazine.)"

• n8x...
• April 10, 2013

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "Woke up with dizziness and terrible nausea. After 5 hours of dry heaving, went to doctor. One injection and nausea gone almost immediately. Slept for 3 hours, then ate dry bagel, chicken soup without any problems. Next day, eating normally but feel tired and a little 'under the weather'."

• Nk2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2020

For Sedation "They work great for me to get me to sleep. Drowsy within half an hour and asleep within an hour. Can't take them every day though as the grogginess and lethargy the next day is extreme. I'm so drowsy, feel weak, and have a really dry mouth from them. I use them to treat insomnia that my depression meds cause."

• bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "I am pregnant, and my doctor prescribed me promethazine for the nausea. I was a little apprehensive to take it because taking any medication while pregnant can be risky, I feel. Anyway, my nausea was so bad one day I decided to take one, and it totally wiped me out. I was exhausted and could have slept forever. At first, I didn't want to take it again, but the next day I noticed my anxiety was calmer. I have severe PTSD and anxiety, and upon finding out I was pregnant, I stopped taking my meds for it (Klonopin). They aren't safe, but I had been miserable since stopping. I just lived in complete panic/fear. I realized when I take just 1/4 of the promethazine tab my doc prescribed me for nausea, my panic attack subsides, and I can function a bit more normally. I only do this when I absolutely need it, but it's a relief to me knowing that if I do panic I can at least take something to calm me down that my doctor approves of and is said to be safe for pregnant women."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2020

For Sedation "I started taking this a while back to help me sleep. It works in a funny way, doesn’t help me fall asleep, but once I’m asleep - it’s hard to wake up. I take half of a 25 mg pill most times, if I take the full pill, I feel quite drowsy and extremely tired the next day. Maybe it’s because I’m quite small, though. Could quite literally sleep through the day. It surely does work, though."

• Uni...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2015

For Nausea/Vomiting "I take this now, and I'm pregnant. It's the only medication that has completely helped my nausea. The only bad thing is it makes me extremely tired, and that's not good because I'm a stay-at-home mother of a very energized 3-year-old."

• Yar...
• December 9, 2018

Promethazine for Urticaria "Chronic hives - 25 mg works well after desloratadine ceased working for me. Side effects of sedation, lethargy, falling asleep very quickly (sometimes inappropriately), dry eyes and mouth. (If I was working and not retired, the side effects may not have been manageable)"

• Akk...
• May 13, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "I've had horrible non-stop nausea and vomiting during my pregnancy, and after being prescribed this, it gets rid of it 100%. I tried taking 1/2 the first few times, but it makes me SO tired I can barely function, and it's kind of depressing. At that dose, it makes me sleep the whole day away, makes me forgetful, and it makes it kind of hard to talk normally. So I switched to a quarter of a tablet, and that works for me. I try to only take it when I really need it."

• don...
• January 31, 2012

For Nausea/Vomiting "Promethazine is a histamine blocker. 25 mg is an average dose for adults. Can also be taken with most pain medicines such as Vicodin, Toradol, tramadol, NSAID types (Advil, Celebrex, Aleve). Please check with a doctor before combining medicines. Makes you a little tired, but not bad. Some people report promethazine also works for anxiety and stress."

• Thy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 11, 2022

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "I use Phenergan for nausea. I take 25 mg to 50 mg. More effective than Zofran, which doesn’t work on me. It causes a bit of tiredness, but not the putting me to sleep type—just relaxes me, which is appreciated when I have nausea."

• van...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 2, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have taken 25 mg promethazine for a few years now. I don’t take it every night, but the nights I have it are a godsend. I have gastroparesis, and so I'm nauseous all the time. I also have bad insomnia and usually bad stomach flares during the night, and this saves it. The only downside to this med is that you will wake up VERY tired usually and maybe dry mouth. It takes a bit to fully wake up. Also, after I take it, I notice myself being lowkey grumpy and irritable. But, I guess it’s better than nausea, insomnia, and throwing up! I will take it!"

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2022

For Sedation "Have been taking this drug for a month for insomnia. The first couple of nights, I was excited to experience getting off to sleep, which was a relief! After about a week, despite sleeping, I was feeling very tired during the day with a very low mood. After a couple of weeks, its effectiveness in helping me sleep had reduced, and I was feeling more nervous during the day. Now, after a month, I wake up if I do sleep with intense feelings of nervousness for hours, which never really goes, and experience dreams at night that cause anxiety. I intended to reduce the dose and come off these pills."

• Res...
• October 26, 2013

For Nausea/Vomiting "Promethazine syrup is what I started out with. It used to be real good for me to take away nausea whenever I would experience it. After having used it for over 10 years, I feel like it isn't working as effectively as it used to. I just found out that it has alcohol in it, and I no longer feel comfortable using it. I also own it in pill form (50mg). The pill is very strong, and I find that it leaves me feeling lethargic, dizzy, and it creates stomach upset. I don't understand how a pill that's supposed to help you when you're nauseous and sick can actually make you feel worse. The suppositories work the best for me. I don't have any side effects from it. And unlike a pill, I don't have to worry about it possibly coming back up again."

• use...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was worried before taking this medication that it would affect me like Reglan (sheer anxiety attack) from the reviews I read here. Somebody even passed away possibly from this. Knowing, I was afraid I tried to not let that affect the outcome from being biased. Zofran wasn't cutting it anymore. I had to take a 25 mg suppository expecting the worst, come to find out I'm barely even tired. I'm about 2 hours in and NOTHING, very irritating. I'm 23 female if that helps and about 125 lbs. I can't say my stomach is ripping itself apart though. I am just very hungry and the pain of that is always around. I can't eat anything and hold it down. But I would consider my case a dud. blah."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2012

Promethazine for Light Sedation "I took the recommended dose and was extremely drowsy, yet angry and restless. It was like I wanted to scream out of frustration, but was too tired and edgy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 26, 2022

For Sedation "I take promethazine for raising my mood and for anxiety when I need it, but the problem is the morning after I feel I have no energy and in a depressive state. It doesn't help in the slightest."

• myi...
• June 1, 2011

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "This medicine helped my nausea, but made me too tired to function properly. It would be great if you have nausea at nighttime."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2015

Promethazine for Motion Sickness "Hallucinations, nausea, irritability, and exhaustion."