Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine is a combination medicine used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, and sinus congestion caused by allergies or the common cold.

Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine contains a narcotic cough medicine and may be habit-forming.

Codeine, phenylephrine, and promethazine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to codeine, phenylephrine, or promethazine, or if you have:

• severe asthma or breathing problems;
• a stomach or bowel obstruction (including paralytic ileus);
• severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
• severe coronary artery disease (clogged arteries);
• narrow-angle glaucoma; or
• if you are unable to urinate.

Do not give this medicine to anyone younger than 6 years old.

Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• lung disease or breathing problems;
• a head injury, brain tumor, or seizure;
• constipation, a bowel obstruction, or stomach problems;
• problems with your bile duct, pancreas, or adrenal gland;
• an enlarged prostate;
• urination problems;
• liver or kidney disease;
• low blood pressure;
• heart disease, a blood vessel disorder;
• a drug addiction; or
• if you have a fever and cough with mucus.

If you use codeine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.

Do not breast-feed. Codeine can pass into breast milk and may cause drowsiness, breathing problems, or death in a nursing baby.

Use Phenergan VC With Codeine (Oral) exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

This medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing;
• extreme drowsiness, confusion, feeling weak or limp;
• a seizure;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• severe constipation, stomach pain;
• little or no urination; or
• adrenal gland problems--nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are overweight, malnourished, or debilitated.

Long-term use of opioid medication may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men or women. It is not known whether opioid effects on fertility are permanent.

Common side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness;
• lack of energy, coordination problems;
• headache, confusion;
• dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation;
• tremors, fast or irregular heart rate; or
• feeling anxious, restless, nervous, or irritable.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.

Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.