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Dangers of long-term Phenergan usage?

Hi, I have severe allergies and the resulting nasal congestion and asthma makes it very hard for me to sleep at night. I have tried dozens of sedatives and sleeping drugs (as well as the whole meditation, therapy angle) and surprisingly, the most effective solution has been 20 - 25mg of phenergan each night. My immunologist expressed concern about me taking phenergan every night, but I have been doing so for about 3 months now will no ill effects.
Does anyone know if there is a danger of taking this strong dose of Phenergan regularly for a long period of time?
Thanks!
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Avatar universal
My husband died from Phenergan.  He was prescribed the medication to counteract another medication. Phenergan overtime, can store up in your fat cells then release all at once at anytime causing complete cardiac arrest. Anyone on long term phenergan use should have their levels tested every few months. The VA doctors did not test his levels and one morning he never woke up. His death was deemed military related since they did not take care of him properly. There thousands upon thousands of lawsuits for phenergan...with many of them being military personnel.  
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3 Comments
Okay, well now I'm terrified D: I've been taking 75mg of Promethazine a day (1 in the morning and two at night) for the last like 9 months. I was prescribed it by my psychiatrist because I hadn't been able to sleep until 6/7am in the morning consistently (no, my sleeping pattern wasn't just messed up, I longed for rest but physically couldn't clock out) and it was worsening my mental health. Since being on this drug, 80% of the time I can choose my own bed time effectively. But if I don't take it, my body doesn't allow me to sleep until 6/7am, just like before. Now I've read this forum and I feel extremely paranoid! If I wean down I won't be able to sleep, but if I carry on.. Who knows what symptoms I may develop? :( any reassurance out there?
Hello....I had this happen to me. Could you please contact me regarding this? No-one seemed to pay attention that I was on this! And the effects...I too was in military !
Michelle...I had a similar thing happen to me. Would you contact me. I too was in the military and no-one seemed to pay attention...thank you
Avatar universal
I have been taking 10mg of Phenergan nightly for sleep for several years. It seems to give me just the degree of sedation I need for a reasonable night's sleep. No sign of side effects yet possibly because of the small dose.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi all,
  My mother gave it to me nearly every night as a young child (prescribed by our family Doctor) in the early 70's, as I was "hyperactive" (I am extremely intelligent & apparently never stopped questioning anything & everything) & wouldn't sleep at night (and pretty much haven't since unless self-medicated, thank God for THC!).  
  I have had Asthma like breathing problems (I had to have my Adenoids removed at 9), eczema like skin conditions - allergic to soap & impure metals, muscle spasms, insomnia, hyper-awareness & slowly rotting teeth for the last 40 years !!!!!!!
  As for Neurological damage - who knows ???
I would not recommend giving this medication to children AT ALL - let alone long-term use !!
Regards
Marty
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Test yourself for food allergies or celiac. This sounds far too familiar with all those symptoms that are manifested in such an unrelated manner. I had almost the same (the teeth, rashes, hyper activity, etc.) and the root of the problem was nothing but the simple, but heavily underdiagnosed celiac disease. And as to promethazine.. despite it's rather weak nature, it is a neurolepticum and will therefore inevatibly generate long-term adaptations and side effects when used regularly. But I would really suggest you to test yourself for the above, since most practitioners would rather test every bit of medication before assuming the root to be a simple food related problem. If you have questions just contact me.
Test yourself for food allergies or celiac. This sounds far too familiar with all those symptoms that are manifested in such an unrelated manner. I had almost the same (the teeth, rashes, hyper activity, etc.) and the root of the problem was nothing but the simple, but heavily underdiagnosed celiac disease. And as to promethazine.. despite it's rather weak nature, it is a neurolepticum and will therefore inevatibly generate long-term adaptations and side effects when used regularly. But I would really suggest you to test yourself for the above, since most practitioners would rather test every bit of medication before assuming the root to be a simple food related problem. If you have questions just contact me.
Avatar universal
I started taking Phenergan about 25 years ago to help with insomnia, usually 25mg per night.  I then cut back to 10mg and found it was helping with my vertigo,  taken 3-4 times per day.  Reading all these posts has now scared me but I think I am hooked!  Help!!
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Avatar universal
I suppose, you must not take it on long run. It has so many side effects. Common and less severe side effects may include blurred vision, involuntary quivering, non-coordination, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, difficult urination while severe effects may include high BP, slow heartbeat, seizure, rapid breathing, tremor and lots more. Talk to an immunologist.
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Avatar universal
I suppose, you must not take it on long run. It has so many side effects. Common and less severe side effects may include blurred vision, involuntary quivering, non-coordination, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, difficult urination while severe effects may include high BP, slow heartbeat, seizure, rapid breathing, tremor and lots more. Talk to an immunologist.
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Avatar universal
Dr prescribed me twice a night for gastro intestinal disease  (mesenteric panniculitis) for 40+ days. Gave me tremors,  twitches,  tics, anxiety and panic. Didn't realize till too late...still have all these 4 months later, all because doctors don't know what they're doing. My life is over....
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Avatar universal
Stop taking!

I was diagnosed with Parkinson's on 6/18/2014.  Saw an Internationally known Neurologist this past Fall AND 1st thing he noticed on my meds list was Phenergan.  Turns out it can affect you neurologically.  I was using it for years for migraine nausea and regular nausea~ chronic.  
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Avatar universal
I have been using Phenergan for over 5 years, 50 mg at night to sleep. The last two years I have had the worst recurring Chronic Hives. I thought it was from stress, but after reading your post I am thinking it could be a resistance to antihistimine. If I try and ween off the Phenergan my hives go crazy. The hives have been all over my face and neck causing extreme swelling. And occasionally my body. It has been ruining my life as I can't go out and I am con
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1 Comments
I have puffy eyes and they are really red around them.I am sure it is from taking the tablets. I have been on them.for months
Avatar universal
Please someone reply to me ....I am desparate and now goingvto yet more neurologists for help . I feel the surgeon and my primary doc totally dropped the ball on me and did not monitor my symptoms. Total neglect of a patient who put my faith in the doctors who I respected the most and basically left my life in their hands. I have chorea, dystonia tics and now losing bladder control. I miss my family dearly and unable to drive or fly.
ANy help out there and what have u done.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Please someone reply to me ....I am desparate and now goingvto yet more neurologists for help . I feel the surgeon and my primary doc totally dropped the ball on me and did not monitor my symptoms. Total neglect of a patient who put my faith in the doctors who I respected the most and basically left my life in their hands. I have chorea, dystonia tics and now losing bladder control. I miss my family dearly and unable to drive or fly.
ANy help out there and what have u done.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
oh my gosh!!! I only took it for 4 months after surgery for anti nausea from pain meds and I have all of these symptoms for over a year. After numerous doctors and testings and my body just depleted and basically all the doctors just not listening to my symptoms I finally had someone admit to the promethazine being a possible cause. Why did the doctors not care to listen and now Ive lost over a whole year of my life and well being!! Now Im faced with all kinds of therapies which will be a long haul for me.I cant drive, talk normally,balance issues, vision problems, sleep issues and all kinds of body movements thats just uncontrollable and painful
How do I go from here? Take more drugs to hopefully clear up this mess that drugs basically caused to have more side effects? Ive lost faith in my primary doc and the surgeon!
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Avatar universal
I would not recommend taking this. I had really bad Nausea in high school so I was prescribed this and after a few months the nausea went away but then I started having Essential Tremors and it has been five years since I've had Promethazine.
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Avatar universal
they gave me one shot of the stuff in the hospital and the twitching happened immediately for me, it took me months before the twitching stopped completely. I would have bouts of twitching/must move or go crazy. I don't advise anyone to take this stuff, its scary when you don't have control over your own body.
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Avatar universal
I have been taking 100mg a day of phenergan for 3+ years for chronic nausea.  I don't know what I'd do without it.  I'd be vomiting all day long.
My question is - does the effectiveness of phenergan wear off after long term use.  Also Zofran or meclizine doesn't even touch the nausea.
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Avatar universal
I was given Phenergan 50m to take at night because I had the shingles on my head and now have really bad itching and this keeps me awake.
it makes me drowsy but I get crazy restless legs. I have to keep getting up and walking around the house. also have to drink a lot of water for the dry mouth that comes with it too.
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Avatar universal
I took promethazine on and off for three years and now suffer form long term effects years later. I have restless leg and jerk at night as I fall asleep (Parkison type symptom). This symptoms is a noted side effect of long term use and had I been cognizant of this information I would have never used this in the first place. I now take meclazine for my balance and stomach issues. The balance issues is another long term side effect form the promethazine. At the time it felt like a miracle drug, but in the aftermath it is a demon. These side effects have not subsided nor do I believe they will go away ever. Personal- not professional recommendation: Stay far away from this stuff!
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8944740 tn?1400753841
I need to know as well.  Starting reduction tonight after 2. months on 25mg.

I have read all of the comments following this post and, for those who are suffering from restless legs (phenergan related or not) MAGNESIUM is fantastic for this.

Also, I have found that propananol 40mg helps greatly with palpitations and tremors.  At least it does for me if I take a lower dose of Phenergan.  BE AWARE - propananol is a blood pressure medication so see your Dr.

Good luck to all.
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8944740 tn?1400753841
I've heard emu oil is good for skin conditions. You can apply it topically or take orally, I'm not sure what is best for you.  Look it up.

And, for others reading this reply, magnesium chelate is excellent for a) restless legs  b) twitching and cramping AND c) sleep.  Just don't take too much as you can have toilets issues (unless you take taurine).  ;0)
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Avatar universal
Hi. I've been taking phenergan  for same period, and experiencing same symptoms. I use Chinese medicine, and accupunture. Was told phenergan would be out of my symptom in 2 weeks
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Avatar universal
Wow!!!
I have benn on 20 mgs of Promethazine (Phenargan) for 2 1/2 months now.  4 weeks after taking it, I started slowly getting sick...Hedaches, confusion, trouble breathing, sensitivity to light, eye changes,  all over fatigue. This week I couldnt even go to work I felt so horrible.   I finally went to my doc (who may I say prescribed it to me) two days ago.  He completely wrote me off and did not believe I was having these symptoms.  I didnt mention the P because i thought is was fine since he prescribed it.  After doing some on line research I have finally figured it out that I am being slowly poisened by this stuff.  If anyone has felt like this please post to me.  I need to know how long this stuff takes to get out of my system and start feeling better.  
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3 Comments
I know this post has been more than 2 years, but I am really interested to know how long after stopping the medication did you start to feel 'normal' again?

I was also on this medication for about 3 months, and suffered the exact side effects you mentioned (I couldn't go to work too because I was extremely weak to even remain seated, and had to lie down). I stopped the medication for a little over a weak now, some side effects lifted, but my fatigue/ extreme weakness is still there.

I was just wondering how much longer would I still suffer from side effects of phenergan . Anyone know?
I was taking phenergan to combat nausea cause by vertigo and found it helped me to sleep. I found it was causing RLS but I put up with it. Then all of a sudden I developed blurred vision in one eye. I read that phenergan can cause this so I stopped taking it. Big mistake to stop so suddenly. The RLS stopped almost straight away but i'm now suffering from 'rebound insomnia' I literally am sleeping no more than a couple of hours a night. Has any one had any experience of this and if so how long did it last? I have been off the phenergan for nearly 2 weeks but the insomnia is so bad I'm considering starting to take it again and then slowly weaning myself off slowly
I was taking phenergan to combat nausea cause by vertigo and found it helped me to sleep. I found it was causing RLS but I put up with it. Then all of a sudden I developed blurred vision in one eye. I read that phenergan can cause this so I stopped taking it. Big mistake to stop so suddenly. The RLS stopped almost straight away but i'm now suffering from 'rebound insomnia' I literally am sleeping no more than a couple of hours a night. Has any one had any experience of this and if so how long did it last? I have been off the phenergan for nearly 2 weeks but the insomnia is so bad I'm considering starting to take it again and then slowly weaning myself off slowly
Avatar universal
Try higher doses of melatonin.

You must get off of the Phenergan. It is probably wrecking your sleep.

It will be tough for a year or so, but it is essential that you wean your body off of it.

There are better options out there.
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Avatar universal
Interesting reading. I have been taking between three and four 25mg tablets of Phenergan every evening for the past 20 or so years.
They were first used to treat my allergies (hayfever mainly) but I soon found how they assisted with sleeping.
If I don't take them, I may only sleep for an hour.
But, I never awake feeling refreshed. I often have a heavy head (no I don't drink) or even a headache, which is difficult to shake all day.
Also, childhood eczema has returned in the past five years, and s causing great problems on legs/ankles at the moment. Even with the Phenergans, I'm woken at about 3 or 4am to find myself scratching away at my legs. The only effective quick-cure has been to pour very hot water over the most irritating inflammation, then applying very thick and greasy moisturising creams.
I use Dermovate on particularly bad outbreaks, but this is no solution over a period, as it weakens the skin structure.
This means you're washing sheets every other day, and altogether doesn't make for an easy working life. I'm now adjusting my diet to see if that helps.
I'm certain that the decades of Phenergan use haven't been a good idea, but I'm not sure I can blame the drug for where I find myself now.
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6524283 tn?1382081587
I was reading the stuff about promethazine and i have been taking it off and on for a long time, 3 years. I only recently started coming down with very hard time breathing even when i havent taken it in a while. its almost asthma like when i cant breath but inhalers dont work and my specialist doesnt know what is causing it.  its not asthma, not copd not a clot. my question is can promethazine cause this to happen?
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