Brand Names

Category

• Sedative-hypnotic

Description

Propiomazine (proe-pee-OH-ma-zeen) is used to produce sleepiness or drowsiness and to relieve anxiety before or during surgery or certain procedures. It is also used with analgesics (pain medicine) during labor to produce drowsiness and relieve anxiety.

Propiomazine is given only by or under the immediate supervision of a medical doctor or dentist trained to use this medicine . If you will be receiving propiomazine during surgery, your doctor or anesthesiologist will give you the medicine and closely follow your progress.

Propiomazine is available in the following dosage form:

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S.)

Before Receiving This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For propiomazine, the following should be considered:

Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to propiomazine or to other phenothiazines (such as acetophenazine, chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, mesoridazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, promazine, promethazine, thioridazine, trifluoperazine, triflupromazine, trimeprazine). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy--Propiomazine has not been shown to cause problems in pregnant women.

Breast-feeding--Propiomazine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children--Although there is no specific information comparing use of propiomazine in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults--Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of propiomazine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases 2 different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking propiomazine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness) or
• Tricyclic antidepressants (medicine for depression)--Taking these medicines with propiomazine will cause an increase in CNS depressant effects

Proper Use of This Medicine

Dosing--The dose of propiomazine will be different for different patients. Your doctor will decide on the right amount for you. The dose will depend on:

• Your age;
• Your general physical condition;
• The kind of surgery you are having; and
• Other medicines you are taking or will receive before and during surgery or labor.

Precautions After Receiving This Medicine

For patients going home within 24 hours after receiving propiomazine:

• Propiomazine may cause some people to feel drowsy, tired, or weak for up to one or two days after it has been given. It may also cause problems with coordination and one's ability to think. Therefore, do not drive, use machines, or do other things that could be dangerous if you are not alert until the effects of the medicine have disappeared or until the day after receiving propiomazine, whichever period of time is longer.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages or take other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness) for about 24 hours after you have received propiomazine, unless otherwise directed by your doctor . To do so may add to the effects of the medicine. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; other sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; medicine for seizures; and muscle relaxants.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Convulsions (seizures); difficult or unusually fast breathing; fast or irregular heartbeat or pulse; fever (high); high or low blood pressure; loss of bladder control; muscle stiffness (severe); unusual increase in sweating; unusually pale skin; unusual tiredness or weakness

Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if the following side effect occurs:

Redness, swelling, or pain at place of injection

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. The following side effects may go away as the effects of propiomazine wear off. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

More common

Dizziness; drowsiness (prolonged); dryness of mouth

Less common

Confusion; diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; restlessness; skin rash; stomach pain

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Revised: 04/16/93
Interim revision: 07/26/94

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