Promethazine and Sleepy: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2012

Promethazine for Opiate Adjunct "I am on opiate pain medication for a back injury from a car accident, and the opiates make me nauseated and vomit. My pain doctor put me on 25mg of Promethazine 3 times a day and it works wonders! It will make you a little sleepy, but once you get used to it, that feeling goes away. I've tried Tigan (Trimethobenzamide) which made the nausea worse. I also tried Zofran (Ondansetron) which I hated because it tastes nasty, and that doesn't help when you are nauseated. I would HIGHLY recommend Promethazine for ANYONE who SUFFERS from nausea due to opiates or chronic nausea!"

• Unc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2018

For Nausea/Vomiting "Every time I get sick, whichever virus I contact seems to attack my stomach. No diarrhea or anything, just constant puking. I would go to the clinic knowing what I wanted, which was promethazine, and after 3 hours and about $130, I get my promethazine prescription. My question is: Why is it a prescription drug in the first place? It's not abusive. Sure, it can make you sleepy, but so can NyQuil. My answer is the fact that it keeps clinics and a good amount of doctors in business. If people can cure themselves, what do we need to go to the doctor for? In more ways than good, our healthcare system has twice as many drawbacks as benefits for the people. Just think about it."

• Mam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "This med is a lifesaver. I take 25 mg when I get super nauseous, and it takes it away in 10 to 15 mins. I don't know about the making you sleepy part because it doesn't do that to me. However, it gets a 10 on the nausea factor alone."

• Kan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2018

Promethazine for Sedation "I have restarted taking 3 months ago, after coming off amitriptyline cold turkey. These are more suited as you can take most cold and flu medication without issues, which was always an issue. The tablets take effect quickly (1.5 hours). I first started on 50 mg per night, now down to 30 mg due to tablets now making me more sleepy during the daytime than before. I would recommend these to any anxiety or insomnia sufferer as they do not have neuro side effects like other sleepers."

• jal...
• February 24, 2010

Promethazine for Motion Sickness "My husband and I have used Dramamine in the past for motion sickness while on our fishing boat. A 50 mg tablet will put us to sleep within 3 hrs after taking the pill. One time I could not drive home, I was falling asleep at the wheel. I went home and could not keep my eyes open. This time during our cruise, we saw a pharmacist on an island stop, and she gave us Phenergan and told us to take 1 15 mins. before going on a fishing charter. The pills worked wonderfully! We were out in really rough waters on a 30 ft. fishing boat for 4 hrs. Did not even get queasy at all! We were not even tired upon our return either. As a matter of fact, my husband said the pill made him hungry, and he ate more. Phenergan is wonderful! Throw away the Dramamine!"

• Sza...
• November 28, 2011

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "I had gallbladder surgery and got narcotics for pain afterwards. No matter what painkiller I got, they made me vomit even at half the dose. Ondansetron (Zofran) helped some but not fully. Once I got my first dose of Phenergan, my nausea was completely gone. It made me very sleepy, but I was very happy about it. This was the best anti-nausea medication that I ever had!"

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2010

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "This drug is truly amazing! Nobody can figure out why I've been so nauseated and vomiting the last 2 years. When I have a really bad episode, I take promethazine and don't throw up or feel nearly as sick. I don't even get the sleepy side effect, it just makes everything better."

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2010

Promethazine for Vertigo "I have Meniere's. Phenergan seemed to help for about 2 hours, followed by an urge to throw up and a horrible headache. I also had to unscrew the fluorescent bulbs above my desk at work, it just felt like a rollercoaster. I felt better when I was moving, but when I stopped, I was still moving! The ENT switched me to 1 mg Ativan, which worked (finally!), but it made me sleepy until I got used to it."

• Hoo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "While in the hospital, I was suffering from nausea and vomiting. Since I could not keep anything down because of the vomiting, I was given Zofran via IV. It worked quickly and controlled my nausea and vomiting. I was given a prescription for Zofran when I was discharged. When the vomiting began again at home, I was unable to hold down the Zofran long enough for it to work. My doctor called in a script for Phenergan (promethazine) rectal suppositories. I found that they worked almost as quickly as the IV Zofran and actually did a better job controlling the nausea and vomiting. As mentioned in other reviews, both the pills and suppositories can make you a bit sleepy."

• res...
• September 19, 2008

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "Phenergan has been a lifesaver. I am a little over 5 months pregnant and have not been able to enjoy a meal for at least the last 3-4 months. I went to the doctor, and she tried me on Phenergan, and it has truly been a blessing. I can eat and not be scared that I'll vomit. It does make me a little sleepy if I take the entire pill, but if I just take half, I can eat at work during the day. At home, I take the whole thing and sleep like a baby. My only negative is there is really no information about how it affects an unborn child. A couple of my friends have taken it, and they have healthy, happy kids. I'll be praying for the same result."

• Pro...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 10, 2015

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was prescribed this medicine about a year and a half ago to get over a stomach bug. Then, when I got Clostridium difficile a year ago, I asked for this medicine again. I have an undetermined stomach condition that I've had since I can remember. It makes me feel nauseous often. My doctor gave me a refillable prescription of promethazine. Every single time I take promethazine, my nausea is gone in 40 minutes or less! It has been wonderful for me. It does make me sleepy, but it's worth it for me if it stops the nausea. I take 1/2 of a 25mg tablet if I'm feeling only somewhat bad, 1 tablet if I'm feeling bad, and rarely two tablets if I feel extremely bad. It is the only thing I've tried that always works completely without fail. I love it!"

• Sil...
• December 3, 2018

For Nausea/Vomiting "Because of chronic pain due to spina bifida, scoliosis, osteomyelitis, etc., etc. I abused (sorry) aspirin for many years, actually under a doc's supervision because it was better than pain medications, and I destroyed my stomach, even needing blood transfusions. So now, I am off all but one aspirin a day, but need to take antibiotics and blood pressure medicine, and what pain meds the state allows, so by nighttime my stomach is pretty raw. I swear by promethazine as being the only med I have ever taken that completely flatlines nausea and allows me to eat a meal. With promethazine, I gained back the 22 pounds I lost during my battle with MRSA. It does make you sleepy, and some people say it feels a little like a small dose of hydrocodone."

• xan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 29, 2014

For Nausea/Vomiting "I've been on promethazine for about 2 years, and it is the only medicine I've ever taken that actually works for nausea. I also take tramadol, which has a bad interaction with promethazine, so I only take it at night, as it also makes you sleepy, which could be a bad thing if you needed to take one early. But 1 25mg tab shouldn't make you too drowsy."

• Jak...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 17, 2019

For Allergic Reactions "For me, Phenergan (promethazine) is amazing. Around twice a week, I get severe hay fever, my eyes hurt really bad, and I can't stop sneezing. I had tried everything, nothing seemed to work. Then I tried Phenergan (promethazine). I take a 25 mg, and half an hour later, I feel fine, just a little sleepy."

• Bea...
• August 29, 2018

For Sedation "For trouble falling asleep (no problem with staying asleep). I work as a heavy machinery operator. Prescribed by my doctor. I asked for a short-acting sleep aid. First attempt - Took at 8 pm. Didn't sleep any earlier. Felt strange and disconnected the next day until afternoon. Second attempt a week later - Taken at 10 am for a nap. Didn't work. But my sinus cough cleared right up - wonderful! Still awake and alert at 6 pm, I went to dinner. I didn't get my usual redneck flush from beer - then at 8 pm, I became very drunk and uncontrollably sleepy after 4 beers. I was asleep by 9 pm. Results: It stops sinus drip and cough in 30 minutes. It prevents face flushing reaction to food and alcohol. It gets a bit sedating after around 10 hours and wears off around 18 hours later. Be very careful with alcohol, even many hours later!!! Conclusion: Not useful for getting to sleep. Too long acting. To sleep at 9 pm, I would need to take it at work in the morning, too risky."

• Anonymous
• July 23, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "My doctor prescribed it when I had my wisdom teeth removed. But even after that, I was nauseated every time I ate, so depending on how bad it was, I would take the Phenergan. It would help a lot and put me to sleep. Only one time it took longer than expected. But overall, it's very good."

• ukl...
• July 14, 2011

For Nausea/Vomiting "For the past 3 days, I have been getting promethazine by IV. This medication is the only one that works for me for nausea. I am having treatment for my migraine called DHE, given by IV. Promethazine works so well for the nausea. It does not make me sleepy, and I have to be given it really diluted. I have small veins, and it is very sore when given by IV. I normally have a PICC line in, and I have never felt this soreness before. Tonight, I know the line is failing, and tomorrow I will have to have yet another line placed."

• wor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2024

Promethazine for Sedation "I have severe anxiety with taking medication, but I was desperate due to my ADHD. I have insomnia and can sit up until 5/6 am. I read the reviews, so I decided half was enough, and it worked like a charm. Yes, the next day you feel groggy and sleepy for a while, same with any sleep medication. It’s weighing up your cons and pros. Works for me, but I only take 1-2 times a week when I REALLY need it. If it’s gone past 1 am, I won’t bother as I know I won’t get up if I take it and will just have it the next day 1-2 hours before bed."

• Anonymous
• April 7, 2009

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "This drug did make me very sleepy, but it immediately stopped my nausea and vomiting."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 3, 2021

Promethazine for Nausea/Vomiting "I take this for severe nausea, 25 mg, but it never made me sleepy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 24, 2023

For Vertigo "This helps get my dizziness under control but makes me feel sleepy. Would always consult a doctor before taking it."