Promethazine and Dry Mouth: What Users Say

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 29, 2020

Promethazine for Sedation "I took 25mg Phenergan to help me sleep. It worked! I've been taking it for almost 2 years but only recently realized, when I stopped taking it, that it was causing me to have a low mood and a REALLY dry mouth to the point where I needed a drink with me at every meeting because it would affect my speech. When I stopped taking it, I woke up 4-5 times in the night, which is normal given I've got small children, but woke in the morning feeling a lot more clear-headed, less headaches, and didn't have the need to guzzle glasses of water! Pharmacists only ever warned of drowsiness but not these side effects so wanted to share them with everyone! This medicine will get you to sleep, but it comes with a significant cost!"

• Gar...
• December 11, 2017

For Sedation "I have been taking Phenergan for insomnia and find it works great. I have had trouble sleeping most nights for a few months, mostly due to being wired up at bedtime. I have random thoughts running through my mind when I lie down, which stops me from sleeping, and then I get anxious about not sleeping, which then prolongs the time taken to fall asleep. But Phenergan seems to calm my mind because of its sedative properties. I take a 25-50 mg dosage, and 30 to 45 mins later, I begin to relax and feel drowsy enough to fall asleep. I get a good 6 or 7 hours of sleep on them, overall these tablets work for me. The only side effects have been a dry mouth and grogginess in the morning, but those are better than getting no sleep at all."

• Nk2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2020

For Sedation "They work great for me to get me to sleep. Drowsy within half an hour and asleep within an hour. Can't take them every day though as the grogginess and lethargy the next day is extreme. I'm so drowsy, feel weak, and have a really dry mouth from them. I use them to treat insomnia that my depression meds cause."

• Yar...
• December 9, 2018

Promethazine for Urticaria "Chronic hives - 25 mg works well after desloratadine ceased working for me. Side effects of sedation, lethargy, falling asleep very quickly (sometimes inappropriately), dry eyes and mouth. (If I was working and not retired, the side effects may not have been manageable)"

• Ale...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 2, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "Gastroparesis has kicked my butt for years, but this promethazine is a life saver. I only take 1/4 tablet, otherwise I’m knocked out the whole day. Dries me up like a raisin, need to drink a gallon of water, it seems, but without this I’d be in a world of pain. I also wake up starving, which is better than the alternative of feeling sick for days."

• Pet...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 18, 2023

For Light Sedation "I'm a 42-year-old man with no health problems. I use 50 mg for sleep, if stressed from work, about twice a week. It puts me to sleep in 90 minutes; once I fall asleep, I'm out until my cat wakes me up 9 hours later, or my alarm rings. That said, it does leave me with a bit of a hangover, but that is nowhere near as bad as waking up after a night of tossing and turning, and it passes after about three hours of being awake. I estimate the sedative effects are present for 12 hours after the initial onset. A word of caution there - I do not drive a vehicle to go to work, and I don't operate machinery; if I did, this drug would not be an ideal choice for me. Side effects were pretty much unnoticeable, maybe just a touch of dry mouth, about a 1 out of 5; and next day drowsiness about a 2 out of 5, (where 0 = none, 5 = severe.) As a sleep aid, the thing I like the most about it is the fact that it lets me sleep for 9+ straight hours if I need to recover from stresses."

• Phe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2023

Promethazine for Sedation "Taken to help me sleep, didn't really feel it worked as still awake at 1 am (took it at 8 pm). The next morning, I couldn’t wake up. I was tired all the next day, dry mouth, and was exhausted. Had to stay home as I could barely open my eyes. Won’t be taking it again."

• van...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 2, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have taken 25 mg promethazine for a few years now. I don’t take it every night, but the nights I have it are a godsend. I have gastroparesis, and so I'm nauseous all the time. I also have bad insomnia and usually bad stomach flares during the night, and this saves it. The only downside to this med is that you will wake up VERY tired usually and maybe dry mouth. It takes a bit to fully wake up. Also, after I take it, I notice myself being lowkey grumpy and irritable. But, I guess it’s better than nausea, insomnia, and throwing up! I will take it!"

• Fin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2023

For Sedation "Literally only been taking it for three days, and my insomnia is actually worse than it was beforehand. I was told it would only take 30 minutes to kick in, but I tossed and turned for up to 3 hours, then woke up every hour or so for absolutely no reason. I'm honestly not sure if I want to continue taking it because I'm even more exhausted than I was previously, with a wicked headache and dry mouth to boot. Its only saving grace is that it might help deal with some of the nausea that comes with starting a new antidepressant, but even then I'm doubtful it will."

• Gar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 12, 2025

Promethazine for Sedation "I have suffered with insomnia for years, mostly because of racing thoughts that I find hard to control. So, need to take a sedative about 3 times a week for sleep to function. I've been on prescription-strength sleeping pills in the past, but doctors are very reluctant to prescribe, which is no surprise given the side effects and high addiction risk. So, I take Phenergan/promethazine. I find after an hour I get sleepy, gives me a mellow feeling, and it seems to switch off my thoughts, making it easier to fall asleep. I do wake up tired on this drug because it is a sedative and have a dry mouth, but after a strong coffee and shower, I am back to normal and feel refreshed, like I had a good sleep on this drug. Other than a dry mouth, I find it a good medication with little to no side effects."