What is chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine?
Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of 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.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine 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.
Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.
Chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine?
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.
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.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, glaucoma, a thyroid disorder, emphysema or bronchitis, an enlarged prostate, or urination problems.
Do not use cold or cough medicine without your doctor's advice if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, or allergy medicine. Chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains an antihistamine, cough suppressant, or decongestant.
Do not take this medicine for longer than 7 days in a row. 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.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine?
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.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have:
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without medical advice if you are pregnant.
Chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use cold or cough medicine without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.
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.