The FDA notified healthcare professionals and patients on April 25, 2006 of a number of potentially dangerous issues involving the use of promethazine, the antihistamine used to treat a variety of conditions, in people two years of age or younger. The agency is currently investigating several cases of complications resulting from promethazine usage, including two fatalities and respiratory depression. They requested that warnings about the risk are added to all types of the antihistamine, including brand and generic forms of tablets, injectables, syrups, and suppositories.

The drug promethazine is generally used to treat motion sickness, hay fever, allergies, and other such symptoms. It can also be taken as a sedative and some physicians prescribe it for antipsychotic purposes, though it hasn’t been proven effective in this area and is not designed for such treatment. The brand Phenergan is manufactured by the powerful pharmaceutical company Wyeth, and the drug maker was forced to alter the packaging of their promethazine products.

Doctors were also warned by the FDA to closely monitor the use of promethazine to children older than two as well, and further cautioned that the drug should not be used in asthmatic, unconscious, or vomiting patients due to the risk of life-threatening consequences. Promethazine also leads to a number of other serious side effects, including drowsiness, breathing issues, dry mouth, and a potentially deadly disorder known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

If you, your child, or a loved one has suffered from severe complications from the use of Phenergan or other promethazine products, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your traumatic experience. Make sure that your rights are protected and that consumer safety is safeguarded by speaking with an experienced defective drug attorney today. Don’t let restrictive statutes of limitations expire before you get the answers that you deserve.