Dear Susan,

>Subject: Phenergan (promethazine) -- Can BF???
>
>Mother of 4 mo. old, visiting locally, given Phenergan (promethazine) by
>suppository for repeated vomiting, told to pump & dump, no BF.  I can't find it
>in any of my sources & she eagerly awaits info. Can she BFafter all?  If not,
>what else could she take instead? Please answer me personally ASAP!
Gratefully,
>Susan Johnson [log in to unmask]

The following is excerpted from "The Family Doctor" version 3, from
Creative Multimedia:

 Phenameth (Major)
     Phenergan (Wyeth-Ayerst)
     promethazine (various manufacturers)
     Prothazine (Vortech)

 antihistamine and antiemetic

Promethazine also (1) works at the vomiting center in the brain and can be
used for the prevention or treatment of nausea and vomiting; (2) is a
central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) depressant, which produces
light sleep or mild sedation; and (3) prevents motion sickness.

SIDE EFFECTS
    Major.
confusion; disorientation; involuntary movements of the face, mouth, jaw, or
tongue; rash; uncoordinated movements; unusual bleeding or bruising; or
yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Small amounts of this medication cross the placenta.  Although there are
reports of safe use of this drug during pregnancy, there are also reports of
liver disease and tremors in newborns whose mothers received this medication
close to term.

Small amounts of this medication pass into breast milk and may cause
unwanted effects in nursing infants, such as sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS) or sleep apnea.

I hope this helps.

Jonathan