What is carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine?
Carbetapentane is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.
Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen congestion in your chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through your mouth.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine is used to treat stuffy nose, sinus congestion, cough, and chest congestion caused by sinusitus, bronchitis, or the common cold or flu.
Carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine?
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old. 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.
You should not use this medication if you have severe high blood pressure, severe colitis or toxic megacolon, or if you are unable to urinate.
Do not use cough and cold medicine if you have untreated or uncontrolled diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, or overactive thyroid.
Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine?
Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
You should not use this medication if you have severe constipation, severe colitis or toxic megacolon, or if you are unable to urinate.
Do not use cough and cold medicine if you have untreated or uncontrolled diseases such as glaucoma, asthma or COPD, high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, or overactive thyroid.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medication if you have ever had:
glaucoma;
asthma or COPD;
diabetes;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
cough with mucus, or cough caused by emphysema or chronic bronchitis;
enlarged prostate or urination problems;
an adrenal gland tumor or disorder (such as pheochromocytoma or Addison's disease); or
if you take potassium (Cytra, Epiklor, K-Lyte, K-Phos, Kaon, Klor-Con, Polycitra, Urocit-K).
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine will harm an unborn baby. Do not use cold or cough medicine without medical advice if you are pregnant.
This medicine may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine.
Artificially sweetened liquid cough or cold medicine may contain phenylalanine. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU), check the medication label to see if the product contains phenylalanine.