Drug interactions
Pholcodine + Promethazine
Severity: Moderate
Pholcodine and Promethazine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Pholcodine is an opioid antitussive with mild sedative properties. Together with promethazine, drowsiness and CNS depression may be increased.
What this interaction means in plain words
Pholcodine and Promethazine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from opioid activity and H1 antihistamine sedation.
What to do
Counsel patients about drowsiness and avoid alcohol and other sedatives. Use caution in children and older adults, where respiratory depression is of greater concern.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Promethazine
- Ibutilide + Promethazine Contraindicated
- Pimozide + Promethazine Contraindicated
- Promethazine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Promethazine Major
- Amiodarone + Promethazine Major
- Amisulpride + Promethazine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Pholcodine with Promethazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Pholcodine and Promethazine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Pholcodine is an opioid antitussive with mild sedative properties. Together with promethazine, drowsiness and CNS depression may be increased.
How serious is the interaction between Pholcodine and Promethazine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Counsel patients about drowsiness and avoid alcohol and other sedatives. Use caution in children and older adults, where respiratory depression is of greater concern.
What other medicines interact with Promethazine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Promethazine with, for example, Ibutilide, Pimozide, Thioridazine. The full list is on the Promethazine page.
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