What Condition Does Promethazine Treat and Its Price?

Promethazine is an FDA-approved antihistamine medicine that is used to relieve symptoms of allergies. This blocks the effects of the chemical histamine in your body that causes allergy. This prescription comes as a 25 mg tablet for oral use.

What condition does Promethazine treat?

Promethazine is used to:

• Relieve symptoms of allergic reactions such as nettle rash, insect bites, and hay fever
• Treats and prevents sickness and vomiting such as travel sickness or sickness associated with vertigo
• Short-term treatment for insomnia

Allergic reactions occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance. Your immune system creates substances identified as antibodies. When you have allergies, your immune system creates antibodies that detect a specific allergen as harmful although it is not. 

How does Promethazine work?

For allergies, Promethazine blocks histamine from binding to its receptors in various parts of the body. Histamine is a substance produced by the body as part of its defense mechanisms. This medication stops it causing the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

For vertigo, this drug blocks histamine receptors in a part of the brain known as the vomiting center. This portion of the brain is stimulated when it gets nerve messages to form a part of the inner called the vestibular apparatus. It’s accountable for making you feel sick and for the vomiting reaction. Promethazine stops the vomiting center from being stimulated.

For insomnia, this is known as a sedating antihistamine because it enters the brain in significant quantities and makes you feel sleepy. You can use this drug for a short period. It is to help you get to sleep if you are having trouble sleeping. 

What is the dosage of Promethazine?

Promethazine is to be taken by mouth. The tablet is to be swallowed as a whole with a full glass of water. Do not break, chew, or crush the drug.

• For allergies, this is usually taken one to four times a day before meals at bedtime.
• For travel sickness, this is taken 30 to 60 minutes before travel and taken again after 8 to 12 hours if needed. For longer trips, it is usually in the morning and before the evening meal on each day of travel.

While having this medication, it is important to drink plenty of fluids. It may help lessen the risk of having certain side effects. The recommended dosage is based on your medical condition, age, and response to the treatment. Your doctor may start you on a lower dose and in due course increase the dose.

You should not take more or less than it is given. Even if you feel well, continue to take the medication until the full prescription is done. Do not suddenly stop taking Promethazine without the consent of your doctor.

What are the precautions of Promethazine?

• Before using Promethazine, inform your doctor if you have any medical history especially of breathing problems, heart disease, difficulty urinating, and high pressure in the eye.
• Promethazine should only be used during pregnancy if your doctor tells you to do so. This should not be used during the last two weeks of pregnancy. If taken during pregnancy, it may cause excitement or irritability in the baby after birth. If you get pregnant while taking this medicine, call your doctor right away.
• If you ever had an allergic reaction to this product, let your doctor know before taking a dose. Tell as well to your doctor if you have any allergies.
• This is not recommended for use in children under two years of age.
• This should be used with caution in people who are over 65 years old, who have kidney or liver problems, and who have severe heart disease.
• This may make you more sensitive to the sun. Limit your time in the sun. When outdoors, use sunscreen and wear protective clothing.
• While having this treatment, avoid alcoholic beverages.
• If you missed a dose, call your doctor for instructions and do not take two doses to make up for the missed one.
  

Cost of Promethazine vs. Phenergan

The generic name Promethazine is a prescription that only costs $0.22 per unit and $13 for 60 tabs. The brand name Phenergan costs $0.63 per unit and $37.88 for 60 tabs. Therefore, Promethazine is a lot cheaper than Phenergan.