What is acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?
Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer.
Doxylamine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body.
Histamine can produce symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. It affects the cough reflex in the brain that triggers
coughing.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated
blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine is
used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sinus congestion, cough, and pain or fever caused by the common
cold, allergies, or the flu.
Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking.
Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine may also be used for
other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen, dextromethorphan,
doxylamine, or pseudoephedrine, or to similar medications such as other decongestants, diet pills,
stimulants, or ADHD medications.
Do not use this medication if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid
(Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine
(Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take a cough or
cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist about using acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and
pseudoephedrine if you have:
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether acetaminophen,
dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this
medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
This medication may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Artificially-sweetened liquid forms of cough-and-cold medications may contain phenylalanine.
This would be important to know if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). Check the ingredients and
warnings on the medication label if you are concerned about phenylalanine.
How should I take acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?
Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your
doctor. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended.
Cough-and-cold medicines should be taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.
Drink extra fluids to help loosen the congestion and lubricate your throat while you are
taking this medication.
An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm. The maximum amount of
acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Taking more
acetaminophen could cause damage to your liver. One packet of acetaminophen, dextromethorphan,
doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine powder may contain up to 1000 mg of acetaminophen. Know the
amount of acetaminophen in the specific product you are taking.
Always ask your doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough or cold medicine in very young
Measure the liquid form of this medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a
regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you
have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have used this
medication within the past few days.
Store the medicine at room temperature, away from heat, light, and moisture.
What happens if I miss a dose of acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?
Your pharmacist has information about acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side
effects:
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fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
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severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
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confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
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slow, shallow breathing;
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easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills,
body aches, flu symptoms;
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increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision,
trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure); or
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nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
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mild nausea, upset stomach, constipation;
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warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;
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sleep problems (insomnia);
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feeling excited or restless; or
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blurred vision, dry mouth;
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problems with memory or concentration;
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ringing in your ears; or
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skin rash or itching.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?
Always ask your doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough or cold medicine in very young children.
Do not take a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or
tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if
you take a cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen
can cause damage to your liver. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000
mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day.
Do not use any other cough, cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication without first asking
your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much
of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you take to see if it contains acetaminophen
(sometimes abbreviated as "APAP"), dextromethorphan, doxylamine, or pseudoephedrine.
What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?
Do not use any other cough, cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication without first asking
your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP", dextromethorphan,
doxylamine and pseudoephedrine are contained in many cold, pain, and sleep medicines available over
the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain
drug. Read the label of any other medicine you take to see if it contains acetaminophen, APAP,
dextromethorphan, doxylamine, or pseudoephedrine.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase your risk of liver damage while taking
acetaminophen. If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, do not take acetaminophen
without your doctor's advice, and never take more than 2 grams (2000 mg) per day.
This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without
your doctor's advice. Taking a stimulant together with cough or cold medicine can increase your risk
of unpleasant side effects.
What other drugs will affect acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?
Before using this medicine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make
you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle
relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by
doxylamine or dextromethorphan.
Also your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
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celecoxib (Celebrex);
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cinacalcet (Sensipar);
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darifenacin (Enablex);
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imatinib (Gleevec);
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isoniazid;
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quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex);
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ranolazine (Ranexa)
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ritonavir (Norvir);
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sibutramine (Meridia);
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terbinafine (Lamisil);
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zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT);
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medicines to treat high blood pressure;
-
gout medication such as probenecid (Benemid);
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an antidepressant;
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a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol
(Zebeta, Ziac), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), and others; or
-
seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or
phenobarbital (Solfoton).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine. Tell your doctor about all the
prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal
products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling
your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine?