From the Research
Promethazine and Cough Suppression
- The effect of promethazine on cough suppression is not clearly established in the provided studies.
- A study from 2013 1 compared the effect of dextromethorphan, promethazine, and placebo on nocturnal cough in children aged 1-12 years with upper respiratory infections, and found that promethazine was not superior to placebo in reducing nocturnal cough.
- Another study from 1990 2 discussed the potential risks and benefits of promethazine, but did not specifically address its effectiveness as a cough suppressant.
- Studies from 2008 3 and 2015 4 discussed various cough suppressants, including codeine and dextromethorphan, but did not provide information on promethazine's effectiveness as a cough suppressant.
- A 2012 study 5 evaluated the efficacy of over-the-counter cough medications as an adjunct to antibiotics for acute pneumonia in children and adults, but did not specifically address promethazine.
Comparison with Other Cough Suppressants
- The 2013 study 1 found that dextromethorphan, like promethazine, was not superior to placebo in reducing nocturnal cough in children with upper respiratory infections.
- The 2008 study 3 discussed the use of centrally acting opioids, such as morphine and codeine, as well as peripherally acting antitussives, but did not compare their effectiveness to promethazine.
- The 2015 study 4 focused on codeine as an antitussive formulation, and noted that it has been widely regarded as a standard cough suppressant, but did not compare its effectiveness to promethazine.
Safety and Efficacy Concerns
- The 1990 study 2 highlighted the potential risks associated with promethazine use, including significant sedation, agitation, hallucinations, seizures, dystonic reactions, and possibly apparent life-threatening events or sudden infant death syndrome.
- The 2013 study 1 found that adverse effects were more frequent in the dextromethorphan and promethazine groups, although the difference was not statistically significant.
- The 2012 study 5 noted that there is insufficient evidence to decide whether over-the-counter medications for cough associated with acute pneumonia are beneficial, and that mucolytics may be beneficial but there is insufficient evidence to recommend them as an adjunctive treatment.