Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: PROMETHAZINE W CODEINE versus XYZAL.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: PROMETHAZINE W CODEINE versus XYZAL.
PROMETHAZINE W/ CODEINE vs XYZAL
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Codeine is a prodrug converted to morphine, a mu-opioid receptor agonist, which inhibits nociceptive transmission; promethazine is a phenothiazine derivative with H1-receptor antagonism, anticholinergic, and antiemetic effects.
Levocetirizine is a selective histamine H1-receptor antagonist; it inhibits the histamine-mediated responses in allergic conditions.
10 mL (1 mg codeine, 6.25 mg promethazine per 5 mL) orally every 4-6 hours as needed for cough. Maximum: 60 mL per day. Do not exceed 5 days.
5 mg orally once daily in the evening.
None Documented
None Documented
Promethazine: 10-19 hours (terminal). Codeine: 2.5-3.5 hours (terminal); prolonged in renal impairment.
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 7 hours in healthy adults; prolonged to 8–11 hours in elderly and in renal impairment.
Promethazine: renal (70% as metabolites, <1% unchanged), fecal (20-30%). Codeine: renal (90%, of which 5-10% unchanged, rest as metabolites), fecal (minor).
Approximately 84% of a dose is excreted renally as unchanged drug; 12% in feces via biliary elimination.
Category A/B
Category C
Antihistamine / Antiemetic
Antihistamine