What is carbetapentane?
Carbetapentane is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.
Carbetapentane is used to treat cough that is caused by the common cold, flu, bronchitis, or sinusitis.
Carbetapentane will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.
Carbetapentane may also be used for other purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about carbetapentane?
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. Carbetapentane should never be given to a child younger than 2 years old.
Do not take carbetapentane 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 carbetapentane before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Before taking carbetapentane, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, circulation problems, glaucoma, diabetes, a thyroid disorder, enlarged prostate, or problems with urination.
Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by carbetapentane.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cough or cold 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 a cough suppressant.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbetapentane?
Do not take carbetapentane 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 carbetapentane before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to carbetapentane.
Carbetapentane should never be given to a child younger than 2 years old.
Before taking carbetapentane, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use carbetapentane, or you may need a dose 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.
Carbetapentane 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.
This medication may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before carbetapentane if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).