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Phenergan

(47 Posts)
Magsymoo Mon 23-Oct-23 11:48:43

Like many others here I have periods of insomnia and am looking at some supplement to help rather than take sleeping pills. Phenergan has been suggested. Has anyone tried this and what dosage is best? I’ve seen 10 and 25mgs. available.

Chris36 Tue 24-Oct-23 12:45:17

I take them and they work for me but I can't purchase them at the moment because always out of stock

CrazyGrandma2 Tue 24-Oct-23 13:45:01

I use them when I've had several bad nights and need to break the cycle. When I first used them, 25mg left me feeling groggy the next day so I tried taking half of one. Perfect smile. Next time I'll buy 10g and save the cutting up ritual!

hallgreenmiss Tue 24-Oct-23 14:14:12

I used to give it to my daughter for travel sickness. I preferred it to conventional remedies because I could control the dosage. I did get questioned when buying it.

Romola Tue 24-Oct-23 15:46:56

Definitely used to give Phenergan to DS as a toddler. A real night bird, would tramp up and down his cot until he slumped over the side. Otherwise he'd have been up watching NewsNight with us.

Gwyllt Tue 24-Oct-23 15:48:45

So glad phenergan works for so many of you. I too used it for travelling with car sick kids
However during a period of coming of prednisolone I became depressed and given anti depressants but that caused periods of anxiety Gp prescribed phenergan and I had the most horrendous nightmares which apparently are not uncommon came off the lot and gradually improved

Marydoll Tue 24-Oct-23 16:35:39

My hyperactive toddler son was prescribed it because he never slept. My GP didn't believe me when I said it didn't work and made him worse. . That is until he witnessed my son trying not to fly. He thought he was Superman.

N4nna Tue 24-Oct-23 16:46:05

An alternative, a comment from a friend…. ‘ Morning all, best nights sleep since op - 11.5 hours. Started using Just Bee honey, really good. It has taken about a week to get into y system - just 2 tsp in hot milk or water one hour before bed’. Might be worth trying.

GrammaH Tue 24-Oct-23 18:05:58

When DS was small, he was a terrible sleeper & the GP recommended phenergan to help him. Can't see a GP doing that now!! It worked a treat!

Katyj Tue 24-Oct-23 18:41:49

GrammaH my GP prescribed it for my son he was a terrible sleeper, it never touched him but made him really miserable the next day. The local chemist used to sell shut eye, something they made up themselves. which worked better.
Can you imagine being able to buy that now ?

annodomini Tue 24-Oct-23 19:26:24

It was prescribed for both my sons when they were little. I dosed DS1 with it for a drive from Nottingham to Tayside when he was 16 months old. He didn't fall asleep until we reached Edinburgh, DS2 was given it in hospital prior to a test in hospital. It made him 'high as a kite'! He was rampaging around the ward. I was not moved to try it on their father!

Delila Tue 24-Oct-23 23:52:34

I understand sedated sleep is more like a form of unconsciousness than natural sleep, and doesn’t have the restorative properties of natural sleep.

bridie54 Wed 25-Oct-23 09:59:16

I was first prescribed Phenergan to help with bad prickly heat. Then i found it helped me sleep so i've just kept taking it though i have reduced the dose from 2 tablets at night to one when i'm able to.
I have no morning effects and I'd rather have sleep than the after effects of not sleeping.

sazz1 Wed 25-Oct-23 11:35:40

Pretty sure years ago it was banned for children as some didn't ever wake up. Perhaps that's why the pharmacy is so cautious about people buying it.

nanna8 Wed 25-Oct-23 11:45:52

I find those chemists annoying. I am a grown up and if the stuff is available over the counter and I wish to purchase it it is my risk, not theirs. I go to another and never darken their doors again if they question me.

Magsymoo Wed 25-Oct-23 14:08:26

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my post. I finally got to a pharmacy today and there they were on the shelf on front of me ‘Phenergan Night Time’. I bought a pack with minimal questioning so I didn’t need to make up any excuses. I know they are just doing their job but as an adult I want to make up my own informed mind about my health. I shall only use them if I have a run of bad nights and get exhausted but I feel better already knowing that I have something to fall back on if that happens.

silversand12 Wed 25-Oct-23 14:12:33

I have 25mg tablets on prescription...they are very hit and miss for me (some nights work better than others) and even on a "good" night I still don't sleep well but they are the only thing I've tried that does actually make a difference (even zopiclone didn't seem to do a thing for me). Only side effect I've noticed is I always have a funny taste in my mouth in the morning, but that's easily sorted.
Problem is I don't take them regularly as I'm terrified they'll stop working! I am so fed up of being constantly exhausted, I wish I could find something that would give me a really good night's sleep - even only once every few months.

silverlining48 Wed 25-Oct-23 14:14:36

Hope they help you mags

Jaxie Wed 25-Oct-23 15:37:33

Phenergan works like a dream. I only take it occasionally and have been denied it once in a pharmacy, but obtained it from a different one. No idea if it is addictive though.

Floradora9 Wed 25-Oct-23 21:13:22

Why has Phenergan been banned?
The P&T Committee is considering prohibiting the use of IV promethazine because it can cause patient harm, such as damage to blood vessels and sur- rounding tissues. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has been recommending various strategies to try to minimize the risks of patient harm.

argymargy Fri 27-Oct-23 07:30:12

nanna8

I find those chemists annoying. I am a grown up and if the stuff is available over the counter and I wish to purchase it it is my risk, not theirs. I go to another and never darken their doors again if they question me.

You’re a grownup but clearly a bit dense. You don’t know the risks and it is the chemist’s legal duty of care to ask questions. Medicines categorised as P (ie pharmacy, not general sales) are only sold to the public with these additional safety rules.

Magsymoo Sun 19-Nov-23 10:33:49

Just an update that may be of interest to those struggling with insomnia. Finally saw a PA - Physician’s Assistant - who offered sleeping tablets and antidepressants, which I refused as I know I’m not depressed although lack of sleep can feel that way. She is going to refer me for CBT but there could be a wait and in the meantime she suggested sleep inducing anti histamines eg Phenergan. So I feel hopeful that I have an armoury to deal with this problem without the heavy duty drugs.