The following serious adverse reactions are described, or described in greater detail, in other sections:
- Addiction, abuse, and misuse [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Drug Abuse and Dependence (9.3)]
- Life-threatening respiratory depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2,5.3,5.4,5.5, 5.6), Overdosage (10)]
- Ultra-rapid metabolism of codeine and other risk factors for life-threatening respiratory depression in children [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
- Accidental overdose and death due to medication errors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]
- Decreased mental alertness with impaired mental and/or physical abilities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)]
- Interactions with benzodiazepines and other CNS depressants [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)]
- Paralytic ileus, gastrointestinal adverse reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11)]
- Increased intracranial pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12)]
- Obscured clinical course in patients with head injuries [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12)]
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13)]
- Paradoxical reactions, including dystonias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.14)]
- Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.15)]
- Interactions with MAOI [see Warnings and Precautions (5.16)]
- Bone marrow suppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.17)]
- Severe hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.18)]
- Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.19)]
- Adrenal insufficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.20)]
The following adverse reactions have been identified during clinical studies, in the literature, or during post-approval use of codeine and/or promethazine. Because these reactions may be reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
The most common adverse reactions to Promethazine HCl and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution include: Sedation (somnolence, mental clouding, lethargy), impaired mental and physical performance, lightheadedness, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation, shortness of breath, sweating.
Other reactions include:
Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis has been reported with codeine, one of the ingredients in Promethazine HCl and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution.
Body as a whole: Coma, death, fatigue, falling injuries, lethargy.
Cardiovascular: Peripheral edema, increased blood pressure, decreased blood pressure, tachycardia, chest pain, palpitation, syncope, orthostatic hypotension, prolonged QT interval, hot flush.
Central Nervous System: Ataxia, diplopia, facial dyskinesia, insomnia, migraine, increased intracranial pressure, seizure, tinnitus, tremor, vertigo.
Dermatologic: Flushing, hyperhidrosis, photosensitivity, pruritus, rash, urticaria.
Endocrine/Metabolic: Cases of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, have been reported during concomitant use of opioids with serotonergic drugs. Cases of adrenal insufficiency have been reported with opioid use, more often following greater than one month of use. Cases of androgen deficiency have occurred with chronic use of opioids [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2)].
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, decreased appetite, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, GERD, indigestion, jaundice, pancreatitis, paralytic ileus, biliary tract spasm (spasm of the sphincter of Oddi).
Genitourinary: Urinary tract infection, ureteral spasm, spasm of vesicle sphincters, urinary retention.
Hematologic: Bone marrow suppression, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, and thrombocytopenia have been reported.
Laboratory: Increases in serum amylase.
Musculoskeletal: Arthralgia, backache, muscle spasm.
Ophthalmic: Blurred vision, miosis (constricted pupils), visual disturbances.
Paradoxical Reactions: Dystonias, torticollis, tongue protrusion, hyperexcitability, and abnormal movements have been reported following a single administration of promethazine.
Psychiatric: Agitation, anxiety, confusion, fear, dysphoria, depression, hallucinations.
Reproductive: Hypogonadism, infertility.
Respiratory: Apnea, bronchitis, cough, dry nose, dry throat, dyspnea, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, respiratory depression, sinusitis, thickening of bronchial secretions, tightness of chest and wheezing, upper respiratory tract infection.
Other: Drug abuse, drug dependence, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, opioid withdrawal syndrome.