Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Use of Promethazine VC with codeine oral liquid in children and Promethazine, phenylephrine, and codeine oral solution in children younger than 12 years of age is not recommended.

It should not be used to relieve pain after surgery to remove tonsils or adenoids in any children. Severe breathing problems and deaths have been reported in some children who received codeine after tonsil or adenoid surgery.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine combination in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine combination.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Bepridil
  • Bromopride
  • Calcium Oxybate
  • Cisapride
  • Dihydroergotamine
  • Dronedarone
  • Furazolidone
  • Iproniazid
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Linezolid
  • Magnesium Oxybate
  • Mesoridazine
  • Methylene Blue
  • Moclobemide
  • Nalmefene
  • Naltrexone
  • Nialamide
  • Ozanimod
  • Phenelzine
  • Pimozide
  • Piperaquine
  • Potassium Citrate
  • Potassium Oxybate
  • Procarbazine
  • Rasagiline
  • Safinamide
  • Samidorphan
  • Saquinavir
  • Selegiline
  • Sodium Oxybate
  • Sparfloxacin
  • Terfenadine
  • Thioridazine
  • Toloxatone
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abametapir
  • Abiraterone Acetate
  • Acepromazine
  • Aclidinium
  • Adagrasib
  • Alfentanil
  • Alfuzosin
  • Almotriptan
  • Alosetron
  • Alprazolam
  • Amantadine
  • Amifampridine
  • Amiloride
  • Amineptine
  • Amiodarone
  • Amisulpride
  • Amitriptyline
  • Amitriptylinoxide
  • Amobarbital
  • Amoxapine
  • Amphetamine
  • Amprenavir
  • Anagrelide
  • Anileridine
  • Apalutamide
  • Apomorphine
  • Aprepitant
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Armodafinil
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Asenapine
  • Astemizole
  • Atazanavir
  • Atropine
  • Azithromycin
  • Baclofen
  • Belladonna
  • Bemetizide
  • Bendroflumethiazide
  • Benperidol
  • Bentazepam
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Benzphetamine
  • Benzthiazide
  • Benztropine
  • Biperiden
  • Boceprevir
  • Bosentan
  • Bromazepam
  • Bromopride
  • Brompheniramine
  • Bumetanide
  • Buprenorphine
  • Bupropion
  • Buserelin
  • Buspirone
  • Butabarbital
  • Butorphanol
  • Calcium Oxybate
  • Cannabidiol
  • Cannabis
  • Canrenoate
  • Canrenone
  • Carbamazepine
  • Carbinoxamine
  • Carisoprodol
  • Carphenazine
  • Celecoxib
  • Cenobamate
  • Ceritinib
  • Cetirizine
  • Chloral Hydrate
  • Chlordiazepoxide
  • Chloroquine
  • Chlorothiazide
  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Chlorthalidone
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Cimetidine
  • Cinacalcet
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Citalopram
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clemastine
  • Clidinium
  • Clobazam
  • Clofazimine
  • Clomipramine
  • Clonazepam
  • Clopamide
  • Clopidogrel
  • Clorazepate
  • Clothiapine
  • Cloxazolam
  • Clozapine
  • Cobicistat
  • Cocaine
  • Codeine
  • Conivaptan
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Cyclopenthiazide
  • Cyclopentolate
  • Cyclosporine
  • Cyclothiazide
  • Cyproheptadine
  • Dabrafenib
  • Daridorexant
  • Darifenacin
  • Darunavir
  • Dasatinib
  • Degarelix
  • Delamanid
  • Delavirdine
  • Delorazepam
  • Desipramine
  • Deslorelin
  • Desmopressin
  • Desvenlafaxine
  • Deutetrabenazine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dextroamphetamine
  • Dextromethorphan
  • Dezocine
  • Diacetylmorphine
  • Diazepam
  • Diazoxide
  • Dibenzepin
  • Dichloralphenazone
  • Dicyclomine
  • Difenoxin
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Diltiazem
  • Dimenhydrinate
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Diphenoxylate
  • Disopyramide
  • Dofetilide
  • Dolasetron
  • Domperidone
  • Donepezil
  • Doxepin
  • Doxylamine
  • Dronedarone
  • Droperidol
  • Duloxetine
  • Efavirenz
  • Elagolix
  • Eletriptan
  • Encorafenib
  • Enflurane
  • Entrectinib
  • Enzalutamide
  • Epinephrine
  • Eplerenone
  • Ergonovine
  • Erythromycin
  • Escitalopram
  • Esketamine
  • Eslicarbazepine Acetate
  • Estazolam
  • Eszopiclone
  • Ethacrynic Acid
  • Ethchlorvynol
  • Ethopropazine
  • Ethylmorphine
  • Etozolin
  • Etrasimod
  • Etravirine
  • Fedratinib
  • Fenfluramine
  • Fentanyl
  • Fesoterodine
  • Fexinidazole
  • Fingolimod
  • Flavoxate
  • Flecainide
  • Flibanserin
  • Fluconazole
  • Flunitrazepam
  • Fluoxetine
  • Fluphenazine
  • Flurazepam
  • Fluspirilene
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Formoterol
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Fosaprepitant
  • Foscarnet
  • Fosnetupitant
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Fospropofol
  • Fostemsavir
  • Frovatriptan
  • Furosemide
  • Gabapentin
  • Gabapentin Enacarbil
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Gemifloxacin
  • Gepirone
  • Glasdegib
  • Glucagon
  • Glycopyrrolate
  • Glycopyrronium Tosylate
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Granisetron
  • Halazepam
  • Halofantrine
  • Haloperidol
  • Halothane
  • Hexobarbital
  • Histrelin
  • Homatropine
  • Hydrochlorothiazide
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydroflumethiazide
  • Hydromorphone
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Hydroxytryptophan
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Hyoscyamine
  • Ibutilide
  • Idelalisib
  • Iloperidone
  • Imatinib
  • Imipramine
  • Indapamide
  • Indinavir
  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Iobenguane I 123
  • Iobenguane I 131
  • Ipratropium
  • Isoflurane
  • Isradipine
  • Itraconazole
  • Ivabradine
  • Ivacaftor
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ketamine
  • Ketazolam
  • Ketobemidone
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lacosamide
  • Lapatinib
  • Larotrectinib
  • Lasmiditan
  • Lefamulin
  • Lemborexant
  • Lenacapavir
  • Lenvatinib
  • Letermovir
  • LetibotulinumtoxinA-wlbg
  • Leuprolide
  • Levocetirizine
  • Levofloxacin
  • Levomilnacipran
  • Levorphanol
  • Lisdexamfetamine
  • Lithium
  • Lofepramine
  • Lofexidine
  • Lomitapide
  • Lopinavir
  • Loprazolam
  • Lorazepam
  • Lorcaserin
  • Lorlatinib
  • Lormetazepam
  • Loxapine
  • Lumacaftor
  • Lumefantrine
  • Macimorelin
  • Magnesium Oxybate
  • Mavacamten
  • Meclizine
  • Medazepam
  • Mefloquine
  • Melitracen
  • Melperone
  • Mepenzolate
  • Meperidine
  • Mephobarbital
  • Meprobamate
  • Meptazinol
  • Mesoridazine
  • Metaclazepam
  • Metaxalone
  • Methacholine
  • Methadone
  • Methamphetamine
  • Methdilazine
  • Methocarbamol
  • Methohexital
  • Methotrimeprazine
  • Methyclothiazide
  • Methylergonovine
  • Metoclopramide
  • Metolazone
  • Metrizamide
  • Metronidazole
  • Mibefradil
  • Midazolam
  • Midodrine
  • Mifepristone
  • Milnacipran
  • Mirabegron
  • Mirtazapine
  • Mitotane
  • Mobocertinib
  • Modafinil
  • Molindone
  • Moricizine
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nafarelin
  • Nafcillin
  • Nalbuphine
  • Naratriptan
  • Nefazodone
  • Nelfinavir
  • Netupitant
  • Nevirapine
  • Nicomorphine
  • Nilotinib
  • Nitrazepam
  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Nordazepam
  • Norfloxacin
  • Nortriptyline
  • Octreotide
  • Ofloxacin
  • Olanzapine
  • Oliceridine
  • Omaveloxolone
  • Ondansetron
  • Opipramol
  • Opium
  • Opium Alkaloids
  • Orphenadrine
  • Osilodrostat
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Oxazepam
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Oxitropium Bromide
  • Oxybutynin
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Ozanimod
  • Pacritinib
  • Palbociclib
  • Paliperidone
  • Palonosetron
  • Panobinostat
  • Papaveretum
  • Paregoric
  • Paroxetine
  • Pasireotide
  • Pazopanib
  • Pentamidine
  • Pentazocine
  • Pentobarbital
  • Perampanel
  • Perazine
  • Periciazine
  • Perphenazine
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenytoin
  • Pimavanserin
  • Pinazepam
  • Pipenzolate Bromide
  • Piperacetazine
  • Pipotiazine
  • Pirenzepine
  • Piretanide
  • Piritramide
  • Pitolisant
  • Polythiazide
  • Ponesimod
  • Porfimer
  • Posaconazole
  • Potassium Oxybate
  • Prazepam
  • Prednisone
  • Pregabalin
  • Primidone
  • Procainamide
  • Procarbazine
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Procyclidine
  • Promazine
  • Promethazine
  • Propafenone
  • Propantheline
  • Propiverine
  • Propofol
  • Protriptyline
  • Quazepam
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinethazone
  • Quinidine
  • Quinine
  • Quizartinib
  • Ramelteon
  • Ranitidine
  • Ranolazine
  • Relugolix
  • Remifentanil
  • Remimazolam
  • Remoxipride
  • Revefenacin
  • Ribociclib
  • Rifabutin
  • Rifampin
  • Rifapentine
  • Ritonavir
  • Rizatriptan
  • Rolapitant
  • Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
  • Saquinavir
  • Scopolamine
  • Secobarbital
  • Secretin Human
  • Selpercatinib
  • Sertindole
  • Sertraline
  • Sevoflurane
  • Sibutramine
  • Siponimod
  • Sodium Oxybate
  • Sodium Phosphate
  • Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
  • Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
  • Solifenacin
  • Sorafenib
  • Sotalol
  • Spironolactone
  • St John's Wort
  • Stramonium
  • Sufentanil
  • Sulpiride
  • Sumatriptan
  • Sunitinib
  • Suvorexant
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tapentadol
  • Telaprevir
  • Telavancin
  • Telithromycin
  • Temazepam
  • Terbinafine
  • Terodiline
  • Tetrabenazine
  • Tetrazepam
  • Thiethylperazine
  • Thiopental
  • Thiopropazate
  • Thioridazine
  • Thiothixene
  • Tianeptine
  • Tilidine
  • Tiotropium
  • Tizanidine
  • Tolonium Chloride
  • Tolterodine
  • Topiramate
  • Toremifene
  • Torsemide
  • Tramadol
  • Trazodone
  • Triamterene
  • Triazolam
  • Trichlormethiazide
  • Triclabendazole
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Trifluperidol
  • Triflupromazine
  • Trihexyphenidyl
  • Trimeprazine
  • Trimipramine
  • Triptorelin
  • Tropicamide
  • Trospium
  • Tryptophan
  • Umeclidinium
  • Vandetanib
  • Vardenafil
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venlafaxine
  • Verapamil
  • Vilanterol
  • Vilazodone
  • Vinflunine
  • Voclosporin
  • Voriconazole
  • Vortioxetine
  • Voxelotor
  • Xipamide
  • Zaleplon
  • Zavegepant
  • Ziprasidone
  • Zolmitriptan
  • Zolpidem
  • Zopiclone
  • Zotepine
  • Zuclopenthixol
  • Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Aminolevulinic Acid
  • Belladonna
  • Belladonna Alkaloids
  • Betel Nut
  • Evening Primrose
  • Midodrine
  • Phenylalanine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Addison's disease or
  • Alcohol abuse, or history of or
  • Bladder blockage or
  • Brain tumor or
  • Breathing problems (eg, COPD, sleep apnea) or
  • Depression or
  • Drug dependence, especially with narcotics, or history of or
  • Enlarged prostate or
  • Head injury or
  • Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or
  • Nerve and muscle disease or
  • Obesity (overweight) or
  • Trouble urinating or
  • Weakened physical condition—Use with caution. May increase risk for more serious side effects.
  • Asthma, acute or severe or
  • Respiratory depression (very slow breathing) or
  • Heart or blood vessel problems (eg, arteriosclerosis, peripheral vascular insufficiency) or
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
  • Urinary retention or
  • Narrow-angle glaucoma or
  • Stomach or bowel blockage (eg, paralytic ileus) or
  • Surgery (eg, nasopharyngeal tonsils, tonsils)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Bone marrow problems (eg, agranulocytosis, leukopenia) or
  • Diabetes or
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
  • Seizures, or history of or
  • Stomach or bowel problems (eg, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis) or
  • Surgery (eg, stomach, urinary tract), recent—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Kidney disease, severe or
  • Liver disease (eg, cholestatic jaundice)—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of the slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.