What it's used for
Promethazine hydrochloride and phenylephrine hydrochloride oral solution is used for the temporary relief of upper respiratory symptoms, including nasal congestion, associated with allergies or the common cold.
Source: U.S. FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA).
Typical dosing
The dose must be measured carefully using an accurate measuring device rather than a household teaspoon to avoid accidental overdosage.
Dosing shown here is the general FDA-labeled range. Your prescribing clinician determines the exact dose, form, and schedule for you — this is not a substitute for medical advice.
Boxed warning / key safety info
This medication should not be used in pediatric patients under 2 years of age due to the risk of fatal respiratory depression.
Common side effects
Drowsiness is the most prominent central nervous system side effect, along with sedation, blurred vision, dizziness, and confusion.
Covered strengths on the Tab $0 list
Covered at $0 with an active Tab membership when filled at a participating pharmacy nationwide or through mail order. A licensed clinician must prescribe the medication.
Related medications
Other allergy, cough & cold medications covered at $0 with an active Tab membership.
Promethazine/Phenylephrine cost without insurance
Cash prices for Promethazine/Phenylephrine without insurance vary widely by pharmacy, strength and quantity — the same prescription can cost very different amounts at two pharmacies in the same town. That is the problem a membership solves.
Promethazine/Phenylephrine is on Tab's covered $0 generic list. With an active Tab membership, every covered strength is $0 — not a percentage off, not a coupon that changes month to month — at participating pharmacies nationwide or through mail order. You do not need insurance, and Tab works whether or not you have a health plan.
Tab is a membership, not insurance. Covered medications require a prescription from a licensed clinician.
Promethazine/Phenylephrine dosage and administration
Adults 18 years of age and older : 5 mL every 4 to 6 hours as needed, not to exceed 6 doses (30 mL) in 24 hours. ( 2.2 ) Measure Promethazine and Phenylephrine HCl and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution with an accurate milliliter measuring device. ( 2.1 , 5.7 ) Do not increase the dose or dosing frequency. ( 2.1 ) Prescribe for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals. ( 2.3 ) Reevaluate patients with unresponsive cough in 5 days or sooner for possible underlying pathology. ( 2.3 ) Reevaluate patient prior to refilling. ( 2.3 ) Do not rapidly reduce or abruptly discontinue in a physically-dependent patient.
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. Your prescribing clinician decides the exact dose, form and schedule for you — this is not medical advice.
Promethazine/Phenylephrine side effects
The following serious adverse reactions are described, or described in greater detail, in other sections: Addiction, abuse, and misuse [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , Drug Abuse and Dependence (9.3) ] Life-threatening respiratory depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2 , 5.3 , 5.4 , 5.5 , 5.6 ), Overdosage (10) ] Ultra-rapid metabolism of codeine and other risk factors for life-threatening respiratory depression in children [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Accidental overdose and death due to medication errors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Decreased mental alertness with impaired mental and/or physical abilities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Interactions with benzodiazepines and other CNS depressants [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] Paralytic ileus, gastrointestinal adverse reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] Increased intracranial pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] Obscured clinical course in patients with head injuries [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] Cardiovascular effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13) ] Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.14) ] Paradoxical reactions, including dystonias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.15) ] Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.16) ] Interactions with MAOI [see Warnings and Precautions (5.17) ] Bone marrow suppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.18) ] Severe hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.19) ] Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.20) ] Adrenal insufficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.21) ] The following adverse reactions have been identified during clinical studies, in the literature, or during post-approval use of codeine, promethazine, and/or phenylephrine.
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. This is not a complete list. Report side effects to your clinician, and seek care for anything severe or unexpected.
Promethazine/Phenylephrine drug interactions
No specific drug interaction studies have been conducted with Promethazine and Phenylephrine HCl and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution. Serotonergic Drugs : Concomitant use may result in serotonin syndrome. Discontinue if serotonin syndrome is suspected. ( 7.5 ) Muscle relaxants : Avoid concomitant use. ( 7.7 ) Diuretics : Codeine may reduce the efficacy of diuretics. Monitor for reduced effect. ( 7.8 ) Anticholinergic drugs : Concurrent use may cause paralytic ileus. ( 5.11 , 7.9 ) Antihypertensive drugs : Concomitant use may interfere with antihypertensive effects. ( 7.10 ) Ergot alkaloids, atropine sulfate, steroids, angiotensin, aldosterone, norepinephrine transporter inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants : Concomitant use may enhance the pressor response and increase the risk of hypertension.
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. Tell your clinician and pharmacist about every medication, supplement and over-the-counter product you take.
Who should not take promethazine/phenylephrine
Promethazine and Phenylephrine HCl and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution is contraindicated for: All children younger than 12 years of age [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 , 5.3 , 5.5 ), Use in Specific Populations (8.4) ] . Postoperative pain management in children younger than 18 years of age following tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2 , 5.3 )] . Promethazine and Phenylephrine HCl and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution is also contraindicated in patients with: Significant respiratory depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] . Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] .
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. Whether this medication is appropriate for you is a clinical decision made by your prescribing clinician.
Common questions
Is promethazine/Phenylephrine covered at $0 with Tab?
Yes. Promethazine/Phenylephrine is on Tab's covered $0 generic list — every covered strength is $0 with an active membership, at participating pharmacies nationwide or by mail order.
Do I need insurance to get promethazine/Phenylephrine through Tab?
No. Tab is a membership, not insurance. Covered medications are $0 with an active membership whether or not you have a health plan.
How do I get a promethazine/Phenylephrine prescription with Tab?
Book a video visit with a licensed Tab clinician (unlimited visits are included with membership). If it's clinically appropriate, they send the prescription to your chosen participating pharmacy or by mail order.
How much does promethazine/phenylephrine cost without insurance?
Without insurance, retail cash prices for promethazine/phenylephrine vary by pharmacy, strength and quantity. Promethazine/Phenylephrine is on Tab's covered $0 generic list, so every covered strength is $0 with an active Tab membership at participating pharmacies nationwide or by mail order.
What is the cheapest way to get promethazine/phenylephrine?
For medications on Tab's covered list, a Tab membership is the cheapest route: covered strengths of promethazine/phenylephrine are $0 with an active membership, and unlimited video visits with a licensed clinician are included, so the visit that produces the prescription is covered too.
What is the usual dose of promethazine/phenylephrine?
Adults 18 years of age and older : 5 mL every 4 to 6 hours as needed, not to exceed 6 doses (30 mL) in 24 hours. ( 2.2 ) Measure Promethazine and Phenylephrine HCl and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution with an accurate milliliter measuring device. ( 2.1 , 5.7 ) Do not increase the dose or dosing frequency. ( 2.1 ) Prescribe for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals. (FDA-approved label, retrieved 2026-09-15. Your clinician sets your dose.)
What are the side effects of promethazine/phenylephrine?
The following serious adverse reactions are described, or described in greater detail, in other sections: Addiction, abuse, and misuse [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , Drug Abuse and Dependence (9.3) ] Life-threatening respiratory depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2 , 5.3 , 5.4 , 5.5 , 5.6 ), Overdosage (10) ] Ultra-rapid metabolism of codeine and other risk factors for life-threatening respiratory depression in children [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Accidental overdose and death due to medication errors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Decreased mental alertness with impaired mental and/or physical abilities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Interactions with benzodiazepines and other CNS depressants [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] Paralytic ileus, gastrointestinal adverse reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] Increased intracranial pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] Obscured clinical course in patients with head injuries [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] Cardiovascular effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13) ] Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.14) ] Paradoxical reactions, including dystonias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.15) ] Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.16) ] Interactions with MAOI [see Warnings and Precautions (5.17) ] Bone marrow suppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.18) ] Severe hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.19) ] Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.20) ] Adrenal insufficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.21) ] The following adverse reactions have been identified during clinical studies, in the literature, or during post-approval use of codeine, promethazine, and/or phenylephrine. (FDA-approved label, retrieved 2026-09-15.)
What interacts with promethazine/phenylephrine?
No specific drug interaction studies have been conducted with Promethazine and Phenylephrine HCl and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution. Serotonergic Drugs : Concomitant use may result in serotonin syndrome. Discontinue if serotonin syndrome is suspected. ( 7.5 ) Muscle relaxants : Avoid concomitant use. ( 7.7 ) Diuretics : Codeine may reduce the efficacy of diuretics. Monitor for reduced effect. (FDA-approved label, retrieved 2026-09-15. Tell your clinician about every medication and supplement you take.)
Promethazine/Phenylephrine is $0 on the covered list
Members pay $0 for covered generics at participating pharmacies nationwide or by mail order — plus unlimited virtual primary care, urgent care and dermatology visits. No insurance needed.
Solo $49/mo · Family $119/mo for up to 4 people · Family+ $149/mo for up to 8
Start your membership → Compare plansTab is a membership and prescription-discount program, not insurance. A licensed clinician must prescribe any medication. Cancel anytime — no renewal.