Is Promethazine Advisable For A Type 2 Diabetic Patient Suffering From Severe Itching?

Posted on Sat, 13 Feb 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 14 Feb 2016 Answered on

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Can promethazine be safely used with a person who has severe itching, extensive petichial rash, is Type II diabetic on Victoza and glimeperide, and compromised kidneys, because she has not slept well for days?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No need adding promethazine when already on Zyrtec and hydroxyzine.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about these severe itches and all the other reported symptoms. I have reviewed this information fully and this drug will not be of any added values as Zyrtec and Hydroxyzine do the exact actions of promethazine. I will rather recommend that you add calamine lotion for topical application to help in resolving this.

I hope this helps. I wish her a great performance tonight. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Above all, thanks for using our services.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)

Depite not helping with the itching, would taking the promethazine help her sleep? The itching is so bad, she has trouble sleeping even 30 minutes and is very sleep deprived, which only adds to her overall anxiety and distress. She has been dealing with this for a month and we have yet to be able to get her an appointment with a dematologist.

I am wondering if using promethazine can be used to assist in sleep?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I will rather go with Clonazepam or Zolpidem!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

This will not really be of added value as she's already receiving the other medications of same value. I will rather suggest we go on and use either of the above sleep aids as the will address dimensions not necessarily touched by the others seen their difference in mechanism of action.

I hope this helps. Let me know what the results turn out to be after trying these.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar