What is dexbrompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine?
Dexbrompheniramine 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.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of dexbrompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine 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.
This medicine will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.
Dexbrompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about dexbrompheniramine, dextromethorphan, 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 constipation, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, or if you are unable to urinate.
Do not use cough or 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.
Do not use 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 dexbrompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine?
Do not use 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, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, or if you are unable to urinate.
Do not use cough or 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:
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;
low blood pressure;
pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor); 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 this medication will harm an unborn baby. Do not use cough or cold medicine without medical advice if you are pregnant.
This medicine may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Antihistamines and decongestants may also slow breast milk production. Do not use cough or cold medicine without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.