Medicines
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warning!
promethazine
Promethazine is an antihistamine used
to treat allergic reactions and allergic
shock.
Side effects: Dry mouth and nose, blurry
vision. Rarely, twitching of the body, face,
or eyes.
Often comes in: tablets of 10, 12.5, and
25 mg; syrup of 5 mg per 5 ml; ampules
for injection of 25 mg in 1ml.
How to use:
For moderate allergic reaction (see
p. 465), give 25 mg by mouth. Repeat in
6 hours if needed.
For allergic shock (see p. 466), inject
50 mg in muscle. Repeat in 6 hours
if needed.
Other drugs that may work:
diphenhydramine.
tetanus antitoxin continued
Important: Many people are allergic to
tetanus antitoxin. Give an antihistamine
like diphenhydramine 15 minutes
before giving tetanus antitoxin.
4 weeks after giving antitoxin or
immunoglobulin, start giving tetanus
toxoid vaccinations (see next page). If
you will not be able to see the woman
again in 4 weeks, it is OK to give the
vaccine on the same day as the
antitoxin or immunoglobulin. But do
not inject tetanus antitoxin or tetanus
immunoglobulin into the same spot
where you inject tetanus toxoid
vaccination — it will stop the
vaccination from working.
Side effects: Allergy.
Often comes in: tetanus antitoxin
comes in vials of 1,500, 20,000, 40,000,
and 50,000 Units. Tetanus
immunoglobulin comes in vials of
250 Units.
WARNING: Promethazine is best
taken by mouth. Only inject it for
severe allergic reactions and
shock.
This medicine is OK to use in
emergencies, but should not be
used regularly in pregnancy or
while breastfeeding.
tetanus antitoxin
(tetanus immunoglobulin)
Tetanus antitoxin and tetanus
immunoglobulin are similar medicines
which can be given to people who
have been exposed to tetanus but
have not received tetanus toxoid
vaccinations.
continued . . .
How to use:
For someone who has a wound that
could cause tetanus (like from an
unsafe abortion, see p. 411) and has not
been vaccinated against tetanus,
inject 1,500 Units tetanus antitoxin in
the muscle,
or inject 250 Units tetanus
immunoglobulin in the muscle.
If a person develops signs of tetanus
inject 50,000 Units of tetanus antitoxin
in the muscle,
or inject 5000 Units tetanus
immunoglobulin in the muscle.
Other drugs that may work:
benzylpenicillin, tetanus toxoid vaccine.
WARNING: Tetanus can easily
kill a person. Get medical help
even after giving antitoxin or
immunoglobulin.
488
A Book for Midwives (2010)