What is acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?
Acrivastine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body.
Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages.
Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of acrivastine and pseudoephedrine is used to treat sneezing, cough,
runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other symptoms of
allergies and the common cold.
Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?
Do not use 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 cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to acrivastine, or
pseudoephedrine, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use
acrivastine and pseudoephedrine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during
treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label. Cold medicine is usually taken for only a short time until your symptoms
clear up.
Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
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 taken a
cold medicine within the past few days.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any
doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.
Store the medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?
Since cold or allergy medicine is usually taken only as needed, you may not be on a
dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, 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 acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?
Your pharmacist has information about acrivastine and pseudoephedrine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of acrivastine 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:
-
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
-
confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
-
severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
-
increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision,
trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure);
-
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills,
body aches, flu symptoms; or
-
urinating less than usual or not at all.
Keep taking the medication and talk to your doctor if you have any of
these less serious side effects:
-
blurred vision;
-
dry mouth;
-
nausea, stomach pain, constipation;
-
mild loss of appetite, stomach upset;
-
warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;
-
sleep problems (insomnia);
-
restless or excitability (especially in children);
-
skin rash or itching;
-
dizziness, drowsiness;
-
problems with memory or concentration; or
-
ringing in your ears.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?
Always ask a doctor before giving a cold or allergy medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, 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 are using to see if it
contains an antihistamine or decongestant.
Do not use 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 cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine 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 drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of this medication.
What should I avoid while taking acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?
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 drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of this medication.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as sleeping pills, pain
medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to
sleepiness caused by acrivastine and pseudoephedrine.
Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications)
without your doctor's advice. Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your
risk of unpleasant side effects.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, 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 are using to see if it
contains an antihistamine or decongestant.
What other drugs will affect acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
medicines to treat high blood pressure;
-
a diuretic (water pill);
-
methyldopa (Aldomet);
-
medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome;
-
bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin
(Ditropan, Oxytrol) or tolterodine (Detrol);
-
aspirin or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills,
Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others);
-
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carteolol
(Cartrol), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol
(Betapace), timolol (Blocadren), and others; or
-
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil),
clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others.
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
acrivastine and pseudoephedrine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during
treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect acrivastine 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 acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?