What is chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine. It blocks the effects of the naturally occurring
chemical histamine in the body. Chlorpheniramine prevents sneezing; itchy, watery eyes and
nose; and other symptoms of allergies and hay fever.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger
cough reflex.
Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or
emphysema.
The combination of chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan is used to treat sneezing,
itching, watery eyes, runny nose, and cough caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.
Chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan may also be used for other purposes not listed in
this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
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 any drugs, or if you
have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan.
This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. 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 this medicine 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 chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
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.
Cold medicine is usually taken for only a short time until your symptoms clear up.
Always ask a doctor before giving cough or cold medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough or cold medicine in very young children.
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.
The chewable tablet should be chewed before you swallow it.
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.
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.
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.
Store this medicine at room temperature, away from heat, light, and moisture.
What happens if I miss a dose of chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
Since cough or cold 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 chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
Your pharmacist has information about chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
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;
-
slow, shallow breathing;
-
severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
-
confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
-
urinating less than usual or not at all; or
-
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills,
body aches, flu symptoms.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
dry mouth;
-
nausea, stomach pain, constipation;
-
blurred vision;
-
dizziness, drowsiness;
-
problems with memory or concentration;
-
ringing in your ears; or
-
restlessness or excitability (especially in children).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
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.
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.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medication. It can add to
drowsiness caused by an antihistamine.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, 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 one or more types of medicine. Read the label of any other
medicine you are using to see if it contains an antihistamine or cough suppressant.
Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or
emphysema.
What should I avoid while taking chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
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 becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medication. Alcohol can add to
drowsiness caused by an antihistamine.
Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as
other cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and
medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety).
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.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, 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 one or more types of medicine. Read the label of any other
medicine you are using to see if it contains an antihistamine or cough suppressant.
What other drugs will affect chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
a diuretic (water pill), or blood pressure medication;
-
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); or
-
antidepressant medications such as amitriptyline (Elavil,
Etrafon), bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox),
imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan. 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 chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?
