Feveril

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Feveril

Property Description
Active Ingredients Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) and Promethazine
Form Oral suspension (e.g., syrup)
Pharmacological Class Analgesic, Antipyretic, and Antihistamine
Common Use Symptomatic relief of fever, pain, and cold symptoms
Regulatory Status Typically Prescription-Only (Rx)

Feveril is a brand-name, prescription-only medication formulated for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with the common cold, flu, and other mild illnesses. Unlike single-ingredient medications, Feveril is a combination drug containing two active pharmaceutical ingredients: Paracetamol (also known as Acetaminophen) and Promethazine.

Paracetamol serves as the primary analgesic and antipyretic component, meaning it is responsible for pain relief and the reduction of an elevated body temperature. Promethazine is a first-generation antihistamine included to address associated upper respiratory symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. This combination positions Feveril as a remedy targeting the symptom complex of fever and concurrent cold symptoms.

Paracetamol is recognized for its reliable efficacy against fever and pain. The inclusion of Promethazine differentiates this product, and its classification as an antihistamine is determined by its chemical properties and effects.

It is important to understand that Feveril is intended solely for the temporary management of symptoms. It does not treat the underlying cause of the illness, such as a viral or bacterial infection, but offers relief from associated discomfort.

Regulatory References

  1. universally recognized by global health authorities

What side effects are possible with Feveril?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile for this combination medicine is officially documented based on the adverse reactions associated with Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) and Promethazine. Regulatory documents classify potential effects by frequency and the body system affected, providing a structured understanding of the medicine's risk profile.

Adverse reactions are frequently related to the Central Nervous System (CNS) and anticholinergic effects of Promethazine. Sedation or somnolence is commonly categorized as a very common adverse reaction. Other common effects listed include dizziness, dry mouth, and blurred vision.

Safety information also documents less frequent but clinically significant adverse reactions, grouped by system-organ classes:

  • Hepatobiliary Disorders: Risk of severe hepatotoxicity (liver damage) associated with the Paracetamol component, particularly when maximum dosage guidelines are exceeded.
  • Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Rare but serious adverse reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and other severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), are documented in official labeling.
  • Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Rare cases of blood abnormalities, including agranulocytosis, are officially listed.

Population-specific safety considerations are mandatory within the official profile. Promethazine is contraindicated in children under two years of age due to the risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression. Additionally, older adults are noted to be particularly susceptible to anticholinergic effects like confusion or urinary retention. The official profile notes that effects such as drowsiness are typically most pronounced at the beginning of treatment.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help — Official Regulatory Information

The information below summarizes the documented overdose profile for Feveril's active ingredients (Paracetamol/Acetaminophen and Promethazine), strictly according to government regulatory sources.

Documented Overdose Presentations

Classification Manifestations Described in Official Labels
Hepatotoxicity Risk Nausea, vomiting, malaise, and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. This can progress to severe, potentially fatal liver failure [2.2].
CNS Effects Profound drowsiness, somnolence, disorientation, or coma. Paradoxical signs include restlessness, agitation, hallucinations, and seizures [1.1, 4.1].
Systemic Signs Anticholinergic effects such as dry mouth, dilated pupils (mydriasis), and inability to urinate. Tachycardia and hypotension may also occur [1.1].

Required Emergency Actions

Immediate medical advice must be sought for any suspected overdose or ingestion above the recommended amount, even if the patient currently feels well [2.2]. This urgency is due to the potential for delayed, serious liver damage from the Paracetamol component [2.4].

Urgent medical attention is required if the person experiences severe signs, including seizures, loss of consciousness (coma), or trouble breathing [1.1, 1.3].

Official Management Notes

The effective antidote for Paracetamol toxicity, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), is required to be administered based on serum drug levels and timing [2.4, 4.1]. Management for Promethazine toxicity is supportive, potentially involving airway support and monitoring of vital signs [1.1, 3.1]. Patients with underlying liver disease or those who are malnourished are officially noted to be at increased risk of severe toxicity [2.2].

Therapeutic Uses of Feveril

Feveril is commonly used to provide supportive symptom management across multiple domains of distress associated with acute, mild illnesses. The combination of ingredients is applied in scenarios where additional management of discomfort is required, especially for symptoms related to the common cold and pain.

The medication may assist with easing manifestations such as fever, generalized body aches, headache, runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes. It supports patients during acute episodes, helping them cope more steadily with symptom fluctuations and contributing to easing the overall symptom load.


Quick Fact: Symptom Management Context

Quick Fact: Relief for Systemic Discomfort and Nasal Symptoms. The combination is often applied during phases when symptoms become more noticeable, particularly when they interfere with daily functioning by disrupting sleep.


“This supportive relief may assist with maintaining functional stability and helps support the patient during difficult episodes by easing distress.”

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Official Eligibility and Contraindications

The eligibility profile for Feveril is defined by strict regulatory criteria, primarily related to the Promethazine component.

Absolute Contraindications (Must Not Use)

Feveril is absolutely contraindicated for use in pediatric patients younger than two years of age due to the explicit risk of fatal respiratory depression, as mandated by official health authorities. Use is also prohibited in any patient who is comatose or who has known hypersensitivity to Promethazine, other Phenothiazines, or any component of the formulation. The medicine must not be used to treat lower respiratory tract symptoms, including asthma.

Restricted and Conditional Use

Use is highly restricted and requires caution in patients with severe impairment of hepatic (liver) or renal (kidney) function. Eligibility is limited by underlying conditions sensitive to the drug’s effects, such as narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, and bladder-neck obstruction, which are documented as requiring special consideration.

Age and Reproductive Status

For children aged two years and older, use is allowed but requires extreme caution and adherence to specific regulatory guidance. The medicine is generally not recommended for use in the final two weeks of pregnancy or during the period of lactation, due to potential risks to the fetus or infant.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

The official regulatory profile for Feveril, containing Paracetamol and Promethazine, documents several categories of interactions that mandate restrictions or timing rules. The interaction structure is primarily defined by the pharmacodynamic risk of severe central nervous system (CNS) depression and pharmacokinetic alterations to the Paracetamol component.

Contraindicated and Restricted Combinations

Co-administration with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) is formally contraindicated or severely restricted due to the potential for potentiating the effects of Promethazine.

Specific QTc-prolonging agents and other phenothiazine derivatives are also cited in regulatory information as requiring avoidance or strict restriction.

Pharmacodynamic and Metabolic Interactions

  • CNS Depressants: Co-administration with other CNS depressants, including opioid analgesics, sedatives, hypnotics, general anesthetics, and alcohol, may significantly increase, prolong, or intensify the sedative effects of Promethazine.
  • Anticholinergic Agents: Use with other agents possessing anticholinergic properties may result in additive effects, which is a noted pharmacodynamic interaction.
  • Enzyme Inducers: Substances that induce hepatic enzymes, such as Phenobarbital or the herbal product St. John’s Wort, may accelerate Paracetamol metabolism, increasing the risk of forming toxic metabolites.
  • Anticoagulants: Large doses of Paracetamol may potentiate the effects of coumarin anticoagulants like Warfarin.
  • Epinephrine: Promethazine is documented to reverse the vasopressor effect of Epinephrine, which is a restriction in the management of hypotension.

Absorption and Timing Rules

  • Absorption Rate: Drugs that speed up gastric emptying, such as Metoclopramide, may increase the rate of Paracetamol absorption.
  • Timing Separation: Conversely, Colestyramine reduces the absorption of the Paracetamol component and requires a mandatory separation of administration time, as specified in regulatory documents.

Population-Specific Notes

The risk of severe liver damage from Paracetamol interactions is noted to be greater in patients with non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease or severe hepatic impairment. Interactions resulting in CNS depression are of heightened relevance in elderly patients.

Mechanism of Action

Feveril (Paracetamol/Acetaminophen) exhibits pharmacodynamic activity primarily within the central nervous system. The compound readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and modulates several key molecular pathways.

One primary mechanism involves the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme activity, predominantly the central isoform (sometimes denoted as COX-3) or the peroxidase function of COX-1 and COX-2 under low peroxide conditions. This interaction reduces the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins, specifically decreasing the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 ( PGE2) within the hypothalamus. This intracellular consequence results in the modulation of central thermoregulatory signaling.

Feveril is also metabolized to N-acylphenolamine ( AM404) in the nervous system. AM404 acts on the endocannabinoid system by inhibiting the uptake of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide, thereby increasing anandamide concentration at synaptic clefts. AM404 further acts as an agonist at transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 ( TRPV1) receptors, particularly on spinal C-fiber terminals. These actions collectively modify descending serotonergic inhibitory pathways and nociceptive signal transmission at the spinal and supraspinal levels, inducing systemic physiological modulation.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Feveril

Feveril oral suspension, a combination product containing Paracetamol and Promethazine, is administered by the oral route for temporary symptom management. The usage protocol is defined by adherence to dose limits, frequency, and specific administration conditions, as outlined in prescribing information.


General Administration Protocol

Aspect Instruction
Administration Route Oral, via ingestion of the liquid suspension.
Dosing Frequency Taken every four to six hours as needed (pro re nata), not to exceed a maximum of four doses in a 24-hour period.
Timing in Relation to Food May be taken with or without food, though administration with food or milk may help mitigate potential gastrointestinal discomfort.
Course Duration Intended for short-term use only, typically limited to the duration of acute symptoms and generally not exceeding 7 to 10 days.

Measurement and Population Rules

Accurate dosing of the oral suspension requires the use of a specialized measuring device (dosing cup or syringe) provided with the product. Labeling emphasizes that household spoons are not to be used for measurement due to the risk of inaccurate dosing.

Age-Specific Restriction: The medication is strictly contraindicated in pediatric patients under two years of age due to risks associated with the Promethazine component. For pediatric patients aged two years and older, the lowest effective dose is required for administration. In older adults, labeling suggests a lower initial dose may be necessary due to potential increased sensitivity.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of Studies for Feveril


Evidence for use in Short-Term Management of Fever (Indication A)

Research has explored the use of Feveril in individuals experiencing outcomes related to systemic or functional imbalance, such as fever, over defined, short time intervals. This research has primarily involved small, short-term, randomized, controlled trials (RCTs). Studies reported how symptoms were measured in the observed populations, noting the differences in measurements during the study period in the group receiving Feveril compared to control groups. These findings describe patterns observed in the studies over the short-term duration. What remains uncertain is how the findings apply beyond acute use; follow-up durations were limited, typically only a few days.


Evidence for use in Acute Pain Relief (Indication B)

Feveril was studied for its application in research exploring short-term symptom changes, specifically focusing on outcomes related to physical discomfort. Studies focusing on episodes where symptoms become more noticeable report how symptoms evolved in the observed populations. Some trials described patterns such as a numerically lower average measurement on the reported pain scale in the intervention group compared to the control group during the study period. However, evidence quality varies across studies, and results apply only to the populations studied. Comparative evidence is lacking to assess the consistency of these patterns across different types of acute discomfort.


Long-term Studies and Follow-up

Currently, evidence is limited regarding the long-term patterns associated with Feveril use. Research exploring short-term symptom changes is more readily available, but studies designed to follow participants for six months or longer are scarce. The available data are still emerging and provide limited information for long-term outcomes, meaning that long-term effects are not fully established.


What is Still Uncertain About Feveril

The research landscape contains several gaps. First, while short-term studies are available, long-term effects are not fully established, and long-term outcomes are not well characterized. Second, comparative evidence is lacking to fully contextualize how Feveril may appear to perform when compared directly against other studied interventions. Furthermore, data for certain groups, such as pediatric or elderly populations, remain insufficient, and subgroup findings are uncertain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Feveril (FAQ)

Q: Is Feveril the same type of medicine as Tylenol or Ibuprofen?

A: Feveril is a combination medicine containing two active ingredients: Paracetamol and Promethazine. Paracetamol is the same active ingredient known as Acetaminophen in the US. Tylenol is a recognized brand name for Paracetamol/Acetaminophen. Ibuprofen belongs to a different class of medicines, the NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Q: What is the difference between Feveril and other common medicines for the same condition?

A: Official product information describes Feveril as a combination product. It contains Paracetamol for pain and fever, plus Promethazine, which acts as an antihistamine to help with allergy-like symptoms. This distinguishes the product from many common medicines that contain only a single active ingredient.

Q: Can I take Feveril if I am already taking herbal supplements?

A: Regulatory documents mention specific examples of herbal products, such as St. John's Wort, as potential enzyme inducers. These substances may alter the way the Paracetamol component of Feveril is metabolized (broken down) in the body. This caution is noted in the official safety information.

Q: Can Feveril be used with other non-prescription pain relievers?

A: Regulatory information cautions against taking Feveril with other medicines that are classified as Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants due to the potential for increased sedative effects. Additionally, official documents note that taking large doses of Paracetamol may potentiate (increase the effect of) certain blood thinners, such as coumarin anticoagulants.

Q: How quickly does Feveril usually start working?

A: According to official pharmacokinetics data, the onset of action for the Paracetamol component is documented as occurring within 30 minutes to one hour after taking the oral suspension.

Q: Are there any common foods or drinks that should be avoided while taking Feveril?

A: Official information explicitly advises against the concomitant use of alcohol due to the potential for increased and prolonged CNS depressant effects from the Promethazine component. No specific common foods are cited in regulatory documents for mandatory avoidance.

Q: Is there a generic version of Feveril available?

A: The regulatory status regarding the availability of generic formulations is a matter of public record. This information is tracked and maintained by health authorities such as the FDA (in the Orange Book) and other governmental agencies.

Q: Do I need to stop taking Feveril if I feel better quickly?

A: Official documents describe the intended use of the medication as being for short-term use, typically limited to the duration of acute symptoms. The use protocol is defined by the resolution of symptoms.

Q: Can I drink alcohol moderately while taking Feveril?

A: Regulatory documents state that alcohol should be avoided due to the potential for increased and prolonged Central Nervous System (CNS) depression caused by Promethazine. The documents do not define a safe level of moderation.

Q: Does Feveril affect sleep patterns?

A: Sedation or somnolence (drowsiness) is officially documented as a very common adverse reaction, especially when first starting treatment. This known effect is documented to have an impact on daily activity and rest cycles.

Q: Is it better to take Feveril on an empty stomach or with food?

A: Official labeling states that the product may be taken either with or without food. Administration with food or milk may help mitigate potential gastrointestinal discomfort, according to official labeling.

Q: Is the research for Feveril based on human studies?

A: Yes. Regulatory summaries of evidence refer to clinical trials, which are defined as Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). These studies involve observed human populations and are used to characterize the drug's properties and effects.

Q: Are there specific symptoms that mean I should stop taking Feveril immediately?

A: Regulatory documents mandate warnings regarding signs of severe side effects. These include indications of liver damage (hepatotoxicity) or severe skin reactions (like SJS or SCARs), which are described in the regulatory warnings as requiring immediate attention.

How should Feveril be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Feveril?

Feveril (Paracetamol/Promethazine Oral Suspension) storage must adhere strictly to regulatory conditions to ensure stability and potency.

Storage Requirements

Storage Component Official Regulatory Statement
Temperature Store at controlled room temperature, between 20°C and 25°C (68°F and 77°F).
Environment Protect from light; keep the container tightly closed.
Prohibited Do not freeze.
Child Safety Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

Disposal of unused or expired Feveril must follow official guidelines. The product should not be flushed down the toilet or poured into a sink. The preferred method is to use a community drug take-back program. If no program is available, the medication must be mixed with an undesirable substance, placed into a sealed bag or container, and discarded with household trash.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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