What is dextromethorphan and promethazine?
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger
cough reflex.
Promethazine is an antihistamine. It blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical
histamine in your body.
The combination of dextromethorphan and promethazine used to treat cough, itching,
runny nose, sneezing, and itchy or watery eyes caused by colds or allergies.
Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or
emphysema.
Dextromethorphan and promethazine may also be used for purposes other than those
listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dextromethorphan and promethazine?
Do not use dextromethorphan and promethazine if you have asthma or other lung
disease.
Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam),
or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can
occur if you take a cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Before taking dextromethorphan and promethazine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to
any drugs, or if you have emphysema or chronic bronchitis. You may not be able to use this
medication, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
Before taking dextromethorphan and promethazine, tell your doctor if you have:
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epilepsy or another seizure disorder;
-
emphysema or chronic bronchitis;
-
sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep);
-
glaucoma;
-
a stomach ulcer or digestive obstruction;
-
bone marrow disorder;
-
problems with urination;
-
high blood pressure or heart disease; or
-
liver disease.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use
dextromethorphan and promethazine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests
during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm an
unborn baby. Do not use dextromethorphan and promethazine without telling your doctor if you
are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take dextromethorphan and promethazine?
Take this medication exactly as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use the
medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on
your prescription label. Cough or cold medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your
symptoms clear up.
Always ask a doctor before giving cough or cold medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough or cold medicine in very young children.
Measure the liquid form of this medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not
a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or
if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a
cough medicine within the past few days.
Store dextromethorphan and promethazine at room temperature, away from heat,
light, and moisture.
What happens if I miss a dose of dextromethorphan and promethazine?
Since cough and cold medicine is usually taken only as needed, you may not be on a
dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you
remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at
your next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the
missed dose.
Where can I get more information about dextromethorphan and promethazine?
Your pharmacist has information about dextromethorphan and promethazine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of dextromethorphan and 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.
Stop using dextromethorphan and promethazine and call your doctor at once if you
have any of these serious side effects:
-
uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or
legs;
-
tremors, twitching, or uncontrolled muscle movements in
your face, arms, or legs.
-
severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
-
hallucinations (seeing or hearing things);
-
confusion, hallucinations; or
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slow, shallow breathing, weak pulse;
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nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
-
fever, muscle stiffness, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeat,
sweating, fainting.
Keep taking dextromethorphan and promethazine and talk with your
doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
-
dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, or confusion;
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blurred vision, dry mouth;
-
ringing in your ears;
-
nausea or vomiting; or
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increased sensitivity to sunlight.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about dextromethorphan and promethazine?
Call your doctor immediately if you experience uncontrollable movements of your
eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs. These could be early signs of dangerous side effects.
Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.
Do not use dextromethorphan and promethazine if you have used an MAO inhibitor
such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl,
Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side
effects can occur if you take dextromethorphan and promethazine before the MAO inhibitor has
cleared from your body.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, or allergy medication without first
asking your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take
too much of one or more types of medicine. Read the label of any other medicine you are using
to see if it contains dextromethorphan.
Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or
emphysema.
What should I avoid while taking dextromethorphan and promethazine?
This medication 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 drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of dextromethorphan
and promethazine.
Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications)
without your doctor's advice. Taking a stimulant together with cough medicine can increase
your risk of unpleasant side effects.
Avoid using other drugs that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, sleeping pills, pain
medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety).
Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, or allergy medication without first
asking your doctor or pharmacist. Dextromethorphan is contained in many medicines available
over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of
this medicine. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains
dextromethorphan.
What other drugs will affect dextromethorphan and promethazine?
Before taking dextromethorphan and promethazine, tell your doctor if you are using any
of the following drugs:
-
celecoxib (Celebrex);
-
cinacalcet (Sensipar);
-
darifenacin (Enablex);
-
imatinib (Gleevec);
-
quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex);
-
ranolazine (Ranexa)
-
ritonavir (Norvir);
-
sibutramine (Meridia);
-
terbinafine (Lamisil);
-
medicines to treat high blood pressure;
-
antidepressant medications such as amitriptyline (Elavil,
Etrafon), bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox),
imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and others.
-
sedatives or anxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax),
diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), temazepam (Restoril), or triazolam (Halcion);
-
phenobarbital (Luminal), amobarbital (Amytal) and
secobarbital (Seconal); or
-
atropine (Donnatal, and others), belladonna, clidinium
(Quarzan), dicyclomine (Bentyl), glycopyrrolate (Robinul), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz,
Levsin, and others), methscopolamine (Pamine), and scopolamine (Transderm-Scop).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
dextromethorphan and promethazine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during
treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect dextromethorphan and promethazine.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This
includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of dextromethorphan and promethazine?
