[e-drug] FDA: promethazine and fatal respiratory depression (1)

["Kirsten Myhr" <myhr@online.no>]

E-DRUG: FDA: promethazine and fatal respiratory depression (1)
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Same warning could well have been issued for other phenothiazines such
as promazine and trimeprazine (alimemazine). In the 80's phenothiazines
were suspected of being one cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS), but was cleared by the European Commission. The result was a
warning not to use them for children under 2 years. I think the warning
should have been stronger. Here in Norway trimeprazine is too often used
for sleep disorder in small children. ADRs are probably overlooked or
underreported.

Kirsten Myhr, MScPharm, MPH
Head
RELIS Oest Drug Info and ADR Monitoring Centre
Ulleval University Hospital
0407 OSLO, Norway
Tel: +47 23 01 64 11   
Fax: +47 23 01 64 10
myhr@online.no