A bit of planning before you travel can save you a lot of hassle later. Promethazine (Phenergan) is one medicine people may pack for holidays, mainly for travel sickness and, in some cases, short term sleep problems. This guide covers the practical side: what to take with you, where to buy it before you go, how to store it in warm weather and how to use it carefully while you are away. For more detail about flying, jet lag and sleeping on a plane, see the companion flying guide.
What Promethazine Can and Cannot Do on Holiday
It helps to know what promethazine is actually used for before you pack it. Promethazine hydrochloride is a sedating antihistamine. It is used for allergy symptoms and as a medicine to help prevent nausea and vomiting, including travel sickness. It is also used for short term treatment of insomnia in adults.
Promethazine can make you sleepy, but it does not treat jet lag itself. Jet lag happens when your body clock is out of step with the local time. A sedating medicine may make it easier to sleep, but it does not reset your body clock.
It is also not a treatment for travel anxiety. If anxiety is the main reason you are struggling with travel, it is better to speak to a healthcare professional about suitable support.
Building Your Travel Medicine Kit
If travel sickness is a concern, it is worth deciding what to pack before you leave rather than looking for medicine at the airport or after you arrive. Some travel sickness medicines to ask a pharmacist about include:
- Promethazine (Phenergan), a sedating antihistamine used to help prevent travel sickness.
- Cinnarizine (Stugeron), another antihistamine used for motion sickness.
- Hyoscine (Kwells tablets or the Scopoderm patch), another type of medicine used for travel sickness.
A pharmacist can help you choose an option based on your journey, other medicines you take and how much drowsiness may be a concern for you.
Simple measures can also help with motion sickness. For example, you may find it easier if you avoid heavy meals before travelling and get some fresh air during the journey where possible.
If you need to drive when you arrive, remember that some travel sickness medicines can make you drowsy. Check the product information and make sure you are fully alert before driving.
Where to Buy Before You Travel
Promethazine (Phenergan) is a pharmacy medicine in the UK, so it can be obtained from a pharmacy without a prescription, subject to the usual pharmacy checks.
It is sensible to buy what you need before you travel rather than relying on finding the same product abroad. Medicines can have different brand names, strengths and availability in different countries.
Keep your medicine in its original labelled packaging and, where possible, pack it in your hand luggage. This makes it easier to identify the medicine and check the instructions while you are travelling.
When to Take It for Travel and Motion Sickness
The timing depends on the product and the reason you are taking it, so always follow the instructions for your particular medicine.
For the Phenergan products covered by the UK product information, the usual travel sickness dose for adults and children over 10 is taken the night before the journey. A further dose may be taken after 6 to 8 hours if needed.
For children aged 6 to 10, the dose and formulation are different, so check the product information or speak to a pharmacist before travelling. Phenergan must not be given to children under 6.
If you are already feeling unwell during a journey, do not simply take extra doses. Check the instructions for your specific product or ask a pharmacist for advice.
Using It to Sleep on Holiday
Promethazine can make you drowsy, which is why some Phenergan products are used for short term treatment of insomnia in adults.
If you are using it for sleep, follow the instructions for your particular product and allow enough time for the medicine to work before you need to be fully alert again.
Promethazine can affect alertness for several hours. The UK product information states that its duration of action may be up to 12 hours, so some people may still feel drowsy the following morning. Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel sleepy, dizzy or less alert.
Phenergan should not be used for longer than 7 days without seeking medical advice.
Jet Lag: Keep Expectations Realistic
Because holidays and jet lag often go together, it is worth remembering that promethazine does not treat jet lag itself.
It may make you feel sleepy, but jet lag happens because your body clock has not yet adjusted to the new time zone. Daylight exposure and gradually adjusting your sleep and daily routine can help your body adjust.
If you use a sedating medicine, be aware that you may still feel drowsy during the day. Do not drive or do anything that requires full alertness if you are affected.
A Word on Travelling With Children
If you are packing medicine for a family holiday, this is important. Promethazine must not be given to children under 6 years of age.
Sedating medicines should not be used simply to make a child sleep during a journey. Some children can also have the opposite reaction and become restless or agitated.
For an older child who has travel sickness, ask a pharmacist or GP about the appropriate medicine and dose before you travel. Do not assume that an adult product or dose is suitable for a child.
Storing Your Medicines in the Heat
This is an easy detail to overlook when you are travelling somewhere warm.
For Phenergan 25 mg tablets, the UK product information says to store them below 30°C and keep them in the original carton to protect them from light.
For Phenergan Elixir, the storage instructions are different. It should be stored below 25°C and kept in the outer carton to protect it from light. Once opened, the elixir has a shelf life of 1 month.
Do not leave your medicine in a hot car or in direct sunlight. Check the packaging for the storage instructions for your exact product before you travel.
Not for Travel Anxiety
Promethazine is not a treatment for anxiety. Although it can make you feel sleepy, that does not mean it treats the cause of travel anxiety.
If nervousness about flying or travelling is the main problem, speak to your GP about suitable ways to manage it rather than using a sedating antihistamine for this purpose.
Who Should Not Take It, Side Effects, and Other Safety Points
Promethazine should not be used by children under 6 years of age or by people who are allergic to promethazine or similar medicines. It should also be avoided if you are taking an MAOI antidepressant or have stopped taking one within the previous 14 days.
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor before taking it if you have conditions such as asthma or other breathing problems, epilepsy, glaucoma, an enlarged prostate, liver or kidney problems, or certain other health conditions. The precautions can vary depending on the product and your circumstances.
Promethazine can cause drowsiness, dizziness and other effects that can affect your alertness. Do not drive or operate machinery if you are affected. Alcohol can increase its sedating effects, so alcohol should be avoided while taking Phenergan.
Also check with a pharmacist or doctor if you are taking other medicines, particularly other medicines that can make you sleepy.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to a healthcare professional before using promethazine. The UK product information does not recommend Phenergan during pregnancy unless the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks, and it is not recommended during breastfeeding.
