DECONGESTANT/OPIOID ANTITUSSIVE/ANTIHISTAMINE - ORAL

DECONGESTANT/OPIOID ANTITUSSIVE/ANTIHISTAMINE - ORAL

PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION:

GENERIC NAME(S): brompheniramine maleate/pseudoephedrine HCl/codeine phosphat

Uses

USES: This combination product is used to treat symptoms caused by the common cold, flu, allergies, hay fever, or other breathing illnesses (e.g., sinusitis, bronchitis). Decongestants help relieve stuffy nose symptoms. This product also contains an opioid cough suppressant (antitussive) that affects a certain part of the brain, reducing the urge to cough. Antihistamines relieve watery eyes, itchy eyes/nose/throat, runny nose, and sneezing. Do not use this product in children younger than 18 years. There is a risk of serious (rarely fatal) side effects, such as breathing problems. Cough-and-cold products do not cure colds. Cough due to a common cold often does not need to be treated with medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to relieve cough and cold symptoms, such as drinking enough fluids, using a humidifier, or saline nose drops/spray.


How to use DECONGESTANT/OPIOID ANTITUSSIVE/ANTIHISTAMINE - ORAL

HOW TO USE: Read the Medication Guide if available from your pharmacist before you start taking this product and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you are taking the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read all directions on the product package before taking this medication. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, take it as directed. Take this medication by mouth with or without food with a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) or as directed by your doctor. This medication may be taken with food or milk if stomach upset occurs. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If you are using a liquid form, use a medication-measuring device or spoon to carefully measure the prescribed dose. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. If your liquid form is a suspension, shake the bottle well before each dose. If you are using sustained-release tablets or capsules, swallow the medication whole. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablets or capsules. Doing so can destroy the long action of the drug and may increase side effects. Do not increase your dose or use this product more often or for longer than directed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time (more than a few weeks) or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as anxiety, restlessness, sweating, shaking chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions right away. Though it helps many people, this medication has a risk for abuse and may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this medication exactly as directed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details. When used for an extended time, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. Inform your doctor if your condition persists for more than 1 week, if it worsens, or if it occurs with fever, rash, or persistent headache. These may be symptoms of a serious medical problem and should be checked by a doctor.

Side Effects

SIDE EFFECTS: See also Warning section. Drowsiness, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, upset stomach, nausea, constipation, or dry mouth/nose/throat may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To relieve dry mouth, suck on (sugarless) hard candy or ice chips, chew (sugarless) gum, drink water, or use a saliva substitute. This medication can dry up and thicken mucus in your lungs, making it more difficult to breathe and clear your lungs. To help prevent this effect, drink plenty of fluids unless otherwise directed by your doctor. If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: mental/mood changes (e.g., hallucinations), ringing in the ears, shaking (tremors), trouble urinating, weakness, easy bruising/bleeding, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat. Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: seizure. This product may cause serious mental/mood changes and very serious (rarely fatal) breathing problems. This product may contain codeine or dihydrocodeine. Codeine and dihydrocodeine are changed into strong opioid drugs (morphine or dihydromorphine) in your body. In some people this happens faster and more completely than usual, which increases the risk of very serious side effects. Get medical help right away if you notice any of the following: slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/difficulty waking up, confusion. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

PRECAUTIONS: Before taking this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: abdominal problems (e.g., chronic constipation, ileus, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis), adrenal gland problem (e.g., Addison's disease), certain brain disorders (e.g., head injury, tumor, increased intracranial pressure), breathing problems (e.g., asthma, emphysema, sleep apnea), diabetes, a certain eye problem (glaucoma), heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney problems, liver disease, mental/mood problems (e.g., depression, psychosis), seizures, stomach/intestinal problems (e.g., ulcers, blockage), thyroid problems (e.g., hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism), urination problems (e.g., trouble urinating due to enlarged prostate, urinary retention), personal or family history of a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol), obesity. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or blur your vision. Alcohol or marijuana can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness or clear vision until you can do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana. To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. This medicine may contain aspartame. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU) or any other condition that requires you to restrict your intake of aspartame (or phenylalanine), consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding the safe use of this medicine. This medication may contain sugar and/or alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, or liver disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safe use of this product. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, slow/shallow breathing, fast heartbeat, constipation, and trouble urinating. Confusion, dizziness, and drowsiness can increase the risk of falling. Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the risks and benefits. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy. Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby. To lessen the risk, take the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Tell the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms in your newborn baby such as slow/shallow breathing, irritability, abnormal/persistent crying, vomiting, or diarrhea. This product may pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding. Products that contain codeine or dihydrocodeine may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant, such as unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, trouble breathing, or unusual limpness. If your product contains codeine or dihydrocodeine, breast-feeding while using this product is not recommended.

Interactions

DRUG INTERACTIONS: See also Warning section. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: other anticholinergic drugs (e.g., benztropine, belladonna alkaloids), antihistamines applied to the skin (such as diphenhydramine cream, ointment, spray), beta blockers (e.g., metoprolol, atenolol), cimetidine, guanethidine, certain inhaled anesthetics (e.g., halothane), methyldopa, naltrexone, scopolamine, tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, desipramine). Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication. The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is taken with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing problems. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products such as other opioid pain or cough relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone), alcohol, marijuana, drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or other antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine). Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. Some products have ingredients that could affect your heart rate or blood pressure. Tell your pharmacist what products you are using, and ask how to use them safely (especially cough-and-cold products or diet aids). Other medications can affect the removal of this product from your body, which may affect how this product works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as ketoconazole), bupropion, fluoxetine, macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), HIV medications (such as ritonavir), paroxetine, quinidine, rifamycins (such as rifabutin, rifampin), certain drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin), among others. This medication may interfere with certain medical/laboratory tests (including amylase/lipase levels, brain scan for Parkinson's disease), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

Overdose

OVERDOSE: If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: confusion, cold/clammy skin, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, slow/shallow breathing, seizures, coma.

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Faq for DECONGESTANT/OPIOID ANTITUSSIVE/ANTIHISTAMINE - ORAL

A decongestant/opioid antitussive/antihistamine oral medication is a combination drug that contains three different types of medications: a decongestant, an opioid antitussive, and an antihistamine.

This medication is primarily used to relieve symptoms associated with allergies, colds, and flu, such as nasal congestion, cough, and sneezing.

Decongestants work by narrowing the blood vessels in the nasal passages, reducing swelling and congestion.

An opioid antitussive is a medication that suppresses coughing by acting on the cough center in the brain.

Antihistamines block the action of histamines, which are chemicals released by the body in response to allergens. By blocking histamines, antihistamines can relieve symptoms such as sneezing and itching.

Some common side effects of this medication may include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, and blurred vision. It is important to read the medication label and consult a healthcare professional for a complete list of side effects.

It is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any medication, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions or take other medications. They can provide personalized advice and ensure that this medication will not interact adversely with any existing medications or health conditions.

It is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding before taking any medication. They can weigh the potential risks and benefits and provide appropriate guidance.

Follow the instructions provided by your healthcare professional or on the medication label. Usually, it is taken orally with or without food, and the dosage may vary depending on your age, medical condition, and severity of symptoms.


Warning

WARNING: Taking this product with other medications that may also cause drowsiness or breathing problems may increase your risk of very serious side effects, including death. To lower your risk, you should take the smallest dose of this product that works, and take it for the shortest possible time. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the risks and benefits of this product. See also Drug Interactions section. Get medical help right away if any of these very serious side effects occur: slow/shallow breathing, unusual lightheadedness, severe drowsiness/dizziness, difficulty waking up.


Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.