promethazine VC
Promethazine VC is a combination medication containing two active ingredients: promethazine (a phenothiazine that acts like an antihistamine) and phenylephrine (a decongestant). It's used to treat symptoms of allergies and the common cold, such as a stuffy nose, in adults and children. Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) comes as a syrup that's taken by mouth every 4 to 6 hours. It's available by prescription only and comes as generics. Side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, and dry mouth.
What is Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine)?
What is Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) used for?
- Temporary relief of upper respiratory symptoms, like congestion, runny nose, or cough, that occur due to allergies or the common cold
How Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) works
Promethazine VC is a combination of two medications.
- Promethazine is a phenothiazine that acts like an antihistamine. It treats allergy symptoms by blocking a chemical called histamine.
- Phenylephrine is a decongestant. It works by squeezing the blood vessels around your nose and sinuses, which helps to relieve congestion and pressure.
Drug facts
Side effects of Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
Less Common Side Effects
- Nervousness
- Feeling restless
- Confusion
- Blurry vision
- Dry mouth
Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Dangerously slow breathing: trouble breathing; bluish-colored lips, fingers, or toes
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS): fever, sweating, stiff muscles, confusion, not aware of your surroundings, fast or irregular heartbeat
- Low blood cell counts: fever, pale skin, fast heart rate, lightheadedness, feeling unwell
- Seizures
- Extreme sleepiness
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Pros and cons of Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine)
Pros
- Combination medication that works well as a short-term treatment option for allergies and the common cold
- Comes as a liquid, good option for people who can't swallow pills
- Available as a lower-cost, generic medication
Cons
- Can make you feel very sleepy or tired
- Not the best choice for people with heart conditions
- Contains 7% alcohol
Pharmacist tips for Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine)
- You can take Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) with or without food. If it's upsetting your stomach, try taking it with food to help.
- Store Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) at room temperature. Be sure to use a medication dose cup, spoon, or syringe to measure out your dose. Using household teaspoons might cause you to take the wrong amount of Promethazine VC.
- Avoid staying in the sun for a long time while you're taking this medication. Though the risk is low, the promethazine in Promethazine VC might make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which can cause you to get a sunburn more easily.
- Phenylephrine in Promethazine VC can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. If you get severe headaches, nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain while taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine), stop the medication and seek medical attention right away. These could be signs of dangerously high blood pressure.
- Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) can cause sleepiness, dizziness, and blurry vision. Avoid driving or doing anything that requires concentration until you know how it affects you.
- Don't drink alcohol or take Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) with other medications that cause sleepiness, such as opioids or benzodiazepines. These can make dizziness, sleepiness, and slowed breathing more intense and raise your risk for accidental injuries.
- Let your prescriber know if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Promethazine VC contains phenylephrine, which is generally recommended to avoid because it's not completely clear how safe it is while pregnant. It also might affect your ability to breastfeed or make your baby irritable.
- Don't start any new medications while you're taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) — especially other antihistamines or decongestants — without talking to your prescriber first. Taking certain medications with Promethazine VC can raise your risk for serious side effects, including daytime sleepiness, dizziness, high blood pressure, and fast heart rate.
- Tell your care team about all of the medications you're taking because promethazine and phenylephrine interact with several commonly used medications.
- Let your prescriber know if you're taking, or have recently, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These medications can sometimes interact with Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) and cause uncontrollable body movements.
- Promethazine in Promethazine VC might affect the results of certain lab tests. For example, it can cause pregnancy tests to have false-positive or false-negative results. It can also cause blood sugar tests to be falsely high. Make sure to tell your HCP you're taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) if you're receiving any lab tests.
Common questions about Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine)
Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) starts working to relieve upper respiratory symptoms within 20 minutes after a dose. The effects of the medication last for 4 to 6 hours.
Yes, Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) contains phenylephrine, which is a decongestant used to help with nasal or sinus congestion. If your congestion symptoms aren't getting better with Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine), ask your prescriber about other recommendations.
No, Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) doesn't contain codeine. It contains promethazine and phenylephrine that helps with certain cold or allergy symptoms, such as runny nose or congestion.
No, Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) doesn't have an opioid medication in it. It has an antihistamine (promethazine) and a decongestant (phenylephrine).
Yes, Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) solution contains 7% of alcohol in it. Talk to your prescriber if that concerns you.
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Risks and warnings for Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine)
Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Life-threatening slowed breathing
- Risk factors: Children under 2 years of age | History of breathing problems (COPD, sleep apnea, asthma) | Taking other medications that slow down breathing
Promethazine in Promethazine VC can cause dangerously slow breathing, which can be life-threatening. The risk is higher in children, people with breathing problems (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, asthma), and people taking other medications that can affect breathing (e.g., opioids, sleep medications, benzodiazepines). Use the lowest possible dose of Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) for the shortest amount of time. Tell your prescriber about all of your medications and medical conditions to make sure Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) is a safe option.
Caution in children
Medications containing promethazine shouldn't be given to children under 2 years old because of the serious risk for dangerously slowed breathing. If you're giving Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) to a child older than 2 years old, you also need to be careful and watch out for slowed breathing. In addition, taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) can put a child at risk for other serious side effects, such as seizures and hallucination, especially in children who are sick or dehydrated. Get medical help right away if you notice your child having difficulty breathing or experiencing other side effects after taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine).
Difficulty concentrating and extreme sleepiness
- Risk factors: Taking higher doses of Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) | Age 65 years or older | Drinking alcohol | Taking other medications that can cause sleepiness
Promethazine in Promethazine VC can cause extreme sleepiness and lower your ability to think, react, and focus. Your risk is higher if you're taking other medications that can make you sleepy, such as benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, and sleep medications. Make sure you know how this medication affects you before driving a car or doing activities that require your concentration. Talk to your prescriber right away if you feel too sleepy from taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine).
Seizures
- Risk factors: History of seizure conditions
The promethazine in Promethazine VC can raise the risk of seizures. The risk is higher for people who've had seizures in the past or for those who take medications that lower the seizure threshold. Let your HCP know if you have seizures more often while taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine).
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
- Risk factors: Taking other antipsychotic medications
The promethazine in Promethazine VC can cause a rare, but life-threatening condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Symptoms include fever, sweating, stiff muscles, confusion, not aware of your surroundings, and fast or irregular heartbeat. If you experience any of these symptoms while taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine), seek medication attention as soon as possible. You HCP will likely have you stop taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) and switch you to something else.
Difficulty controlling body movements
- Risk factors: Taking other antipsychotic medications | Dehydrated | Children
The promethazine in Promethazine VC can cause involuntary muscle movements, such as eye-twitching or lip-smacking. The risk is higher for people who are dehydrated. If you experience any uncontrolled movements and aren't able to stop them, talk to your HCP right away.
Lower white blood cell counts
- Risk factors: History of low blood cell counts
Though not common, promethazine in Promethazine VC can lower your white blood cell counts, especially if they've been low previously from other conditions. This can raise your risk of serious infection. If you develop any signs of infection, such as fever, tiredness, chills, cough, or trouble breathing, and they don't go away, contact your prescriber right away.
High heart rate and blood pressure
- Risk factors: Heart problems | High blood pressure
Phenylephrine in Promethazine VC can raise your heart rate and blood pressure, even at recommended doses. If you have a history of heart conditions or high blood pressure, ask your HCP if Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) is safe for you before taking it. If you get severe headaches, nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain while taking Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine), stop the medication and seek medical attention right away.
Worsening of certain medical conditions
- Risk factors: Heart problems | High blood pressure | Thyroid disease | Diabetes | Prostate problems
Don't take Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) if you have any of the risk factors listed above unless your HCP said it is safe to do so. Phenylephrine in Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) can worsen your condition(s) and cause serious side effects. Make sure your HCP knows about all medical conditions you have or have had in the past before starting Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine).
Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) dosage
Ml of syrup| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.25mg/5mg/5ml | 120 ml | $29.26 | $0.24 |
Typical dosage for Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine)
Each teaspoonful (5 mL) of Promethazine VC contains 6.25 mg of promethazine and 5 mg of phenylephrine.
- Ages 12 years and over: The typical dose is 1 teaspoonful (5 mL) by mouth every 4 to 6 hours. Don't take more than 6 teaspoonfuls (30 mL) in 24 hours.
- Ages 6 to under 12 years: The typical dose is ½ to 1 teaspoonful (2.5 mL to 5 mL) by mouth every 4 to 6 hours. Don't take more than 6 teaspoonfuls (30 mL) in 24 hours.
- Ages 2 to under 6 years: The typical dose is ¼ to ½ teaspoonfuls (1.25 mL to 2.5 mL) by mouth every 4 to 6 hours.
How much does Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) cost?
$29.26
Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine) will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergic reaction to promethazine or any phenothiazines
- Lower respiratory symptoms (including asthma)
- High blood pressure
- Current or recent (within 2 weeks) use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
- Poor blood flow to legs (peripheral vascular disease)
What are alternatives to Promethazine VC (promethazine / phenylephrine)?
Short-term relief of symptoms due to the common cold or hay fever (allergies):