Actavis Promethazine Codeine – Human Prescription Cough Syrup

What It Is

• Active Ingredients:
  • Promethazine Hydrochloride – antihistamine with sedative and anti‑nausea properties.
  • Codeine Phosphate – opioid used for cough suppression and mild pain relief.
• Formulation: Oral syrup.
• Manufacturer: Actavis (now part of Teva Pharmaceuticals).

Actavis promethazine codeïne combination medication is used to treat symptoms caused by the common cold, flu, allergies, or other breathing illnesses (such as sinusitis, bronchitis). Promethazine is an antihistamine that relieves watery eyes, itchy eyes/nose/throat, runny nose, and sneezing. Codeine is an opioid cough suppressant (antitussive) that affects a certain part of the brain, reducing the urge to cough.Opioid cough suppressants should not be used by children younger than 18 years. Children are at higher risk for serious (even fatal) side effects, especially breathing problems. Talk with the doctor about the risks and benefits of this medication.Cough-and-cold products do not cure colds. Cough due to a common cold often does not need to be treated with medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to relieve cough and cold symptoms, such as drinking enough fluids, using a humidifier, or saline nose drops/spray.

How to use Promethazine-Codeine
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking codeine/promethazine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually every 4 to 6 hours as needed with a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) or as directed by your doctor. This medication can be taken with food if stomach upset occurs. Drink plenty of fluids when you use this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose.

Do not increase your dose or use this product more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase.

If you suddenly stop using this medication, you may have withdrawal symptoms (such as restlessness, watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, sweating, muscle aches). To help prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. Withdrawal is more likely if you have used this medication for a long time (more than a few weeks) or in high doses. Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have withdrawal.

Promethazine is an antihistamine.

Pronunciation: pro-METH-a-zeen

What are promethazine’s uses?

Promethazine is used in the treatment of allergy symptoms, for example, a runny nose, itchiness, sneezing, watery eyes, and itchy skin rashes.

It is also used for motion sickness and to treat nausea and vomiting.

What dosage of Promethazine Codeine should you take?

The dosage for promethazine will depend on the condition being treated. It is important to not take more or less of this medicine than what is prescribed. To prevent motion sickness, it should typically be taken about an hour before travelling.

Check the correct dosages with your Clicks pharmacist.

What special precautions should you take?

• Promethazine may cause side effects that could affect your thinking or reaction time. It may therefore affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. It is advised that you don’t undertake these potentially dangerous activities until you know how this medicine will affect you.
• Avoid drinking alcohol with this medication.
• Promethazine should not be given to a child younger than two years old, as it can cause severe breathing problems.
• Dosage in children depends on their weight, so always be as accurate as possible with this information if this medication is being prescribed for a child.
• This medication can cause unusual results in certain medical tests, so advise any doctor treating you that you are taking it.
• Promethazine should be used with caution in the elderly as they are more likely to suffer from the side effects.
• Promethazine is not safe to use if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Promethazine should be avoided if you suffer from the following conditions:

• A promethazine allergy
• Recurrent bouts of dizziness, drowsiness or headache

Promethazine should be used with caution if you suffer from the following conditions:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Increased eye pressure (glaucoma)
• Epilepsy
• Impaired liver or kidney function
• Prostate problems
• Diabetes
• Reye’s syndrome (a rare condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain)

What drug interactions could you experience?

As a rule, always inform your doctor or Clicks pharmacist what prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking or planning to take to ensure you don’t suffer the effects of adverse drug interactions.

What are promethazine’s Codeine side effects?

Side effects could include:

• Dizziness
• Restlessness
• Headache
• Disorientation
• Dry mouth
• Nightmares
• Skin rashes
• Abdominal pain, indigestion, nausea, vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Sensitivity to light

This is not a complete list of side effects. It’s essential that you call your doctor should you notice any severe or odd side effects.

What are the overdose symptoms of Promethazine Codeine?

Call a doctor or the ambulance immediately if you notice the following symptoms:
In children:

• Decreased coordination
• Excitability
• Any involuntary movements
• Hallucinations
• Slowed breathing
• Increase in heart rate

In adults:

• Drowsiness
• Convulsions
• Increased or abnormal heart rate
• Slowed breathing

The accuracy of this information was checked and approved by Clicks’ pharmacist Waheed Abdurahman in August 2015

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