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Drug Interactions With Promethazine
A number of medications may cause promethazine drug interactions, including CYP 2D6 and 2B6 inhibitors, anticholinergic drugs, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and epinephrine. Taking promethazine with these medicines can decrease the effectiveness of the drugs or increase your risk of side effects. In order to help prevent such problems, tell your healthcare provider about all other medications you are taking.
Promethazine hydrochloride (Phenergan®) can potentially interact with several other medications. Some of the medicines that may lead to drug interactions with promethazine include:
- Alcohol
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor medications, such as:
- Donepezil (Aricept®)
- Galantamine (Razadyne™)
- Rivastigmine (Exelon®)
- Tacrine (Cognex®)
- Anticholinergic drugs, such as:
- Atropine
- Belladonna (Donnatal®, B&O Supprettes®, Bellamine S®)
- Benztropine (Cogentin®)
- Clidinium (Librax®)
- Clozapine (Clozaril®)
- Darifenacin (Enablex®)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)
- Dicyclomine (Bentyl®)
- Glycopyrrolate (Robinul®)
- Haloperidol (Haldol®)
- Homatropine (Hycodan®)
- Hyoscyamine (Levsin®)
- Ipratropium (Atrovent®)
- Oxybutynin (Ditropan®, Ditropan XL®, Oxytrol®)
- Solifenacin (VESIcare®)
- Scopolamine (Transderm Scop®)
- Tiotropium (Spiriva®)
- Tolterodine (Detrol®, Detrol® LA)
- CYP 2B6 inhibitor medications, such as:
- Desipramine (Norpramin®)
- Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®, Doxil®)
- Miconazole
- Paroxetine (Paxil®, Paxil CR®, Pexeva®)
- Sertraline (Zoloft®)
- Sorafenib (Nexavar®)
- Thiotepa
- CYP 2D6 inhibitor medications, such as:
- Chlorpromazine
- Cinacalcet (Sensipar®)
- Cocaine
- Delavirdine (Rescriptor®)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac®, Sarafem®, Selfemra™)
- Lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra®)
- Miconazole
- Paroxetine (Paxil®, Paxil CR®, Pexeva®)
- Quinidine
- Quinine
- Ritonavir (Norvir®)
- Terbinafine (Lamisil®)
- Epinephrine
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as:
- Isocarboxazid (Marplan®)
- Phenelzine (Nardil®)
- Rasagiline (Azilect®)
- Selegiline (Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Zelapar®)
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate®)
- Other medications that cause drowsiness, such as:
- Antipsychotic medications
- Anxiety medications
- Most antidepressants
- Muscle relaxants
- Narcotic pain relievers
- Sleep medications
- Some antihistamines
- Pramlintide (Symlin®).
It should be noted that this article applies only to products that contain just promethazine as the active ingredient. Some promethazine cough syrups (such as Phenergan with Codeine) contain other active ingredients as well.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD