What is carbetapentane, pseudoephedrine, and pyrilamine?
Carbetapentane is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
Pyrilamine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.
The combination of carbetapentane, pseudoephedrine, and pyrilamine is used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, cough, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.
Carbetapentane, pseudoephedrine, and pyrilamine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about carbetapentane, pseudoephedrine, and pyrilamine?
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 constipation, 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, a stomach ulcer, 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, pseudoephedrine, and pyrilamine?
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 high blood pressure, 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, a stomach ulcer, or overactive thyroid.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medication if you have ever had:
a blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines), a colostomy or ileostomy;
diabetes;
liver or kidney disease;
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, pseudoephedrine, and pyrilamine will harm an unborn baby. Do not use cold or cough medicine without medical advice if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether carbetapentane, pseudoephedrine, and pyrilamine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use cough or cold medicine without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.