Promethazine is not to be used in children under the age of two years due to the potentially fatal risk of respiratory depression (slowed breathing).

Promethazine is not to be used in children under the age of two years due to the potentially fatal risk of respiratory depression (slowed breathing). Caution should be used when administering promethazine in children aged two and up: health care professionals are recommended to use the lowest effective dose, and the use of other drugs that may also slow breathing should be avoided. Promethazine is not to be injected under the skin (subcutaneously) due to the risk of serious tissue injury. The preferred route of administration for promethazine is by injection directly and deeply into a muscle (deep intramuscular injection). Other routes of injection, particularly into arteries or veins, have been associated with serious tissue injury. Regardless of where on the body the drug is injected, promethazine has the potential to occasionally cause chemical irritation and in rare cases severe tissue damage at the site of injection, including cases of gangrene. Patients should immediately report any persistent or worsening pain or burning sensation they feel at the site of injection.

Promethazine

Posted 2 days ago by David Chan

Promethazine

ATC Code: R06AD02

News Source

Health Canada MedEffect

News Date

April 26, 2010

Brief Description

Promethazine is not to be used in children under the age of two years due to the potentially fatal risk of respiratory depression (slowed breathing).
Caution should be used when administering promethazine in children aged two and up: health care professionals are recommended to use the lowest effective dose, and the use of other drugs that may also slow breathing should be avoided.
Promethazine is not to be injected under the skin (subcutaneously) due to the risk of serious tissue injury.
The preferred route of administration for promethazine is by injection directly and deeply into a muscle (deep intramuscular injection). Other routes of injection, particularly into arteries or veins, have been associated with serious tissue injury.
Regardless of where on the body the drug is injected, promethazine has the potential to occasionally cause chemical irritation and in rare cases severe tissue damage at the site of injection, including cases of gangrene. Patients should immediately report any persistent or worsening pain or burning sensation they feel at the site of injection.

Reference

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories...