chlorpheniramine
What is the most important information I should know about chlorpheniramine?
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 medicine if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, an enlarged prostate, if you are unable to urinate, or if you are having an asthma attack.
What is chlorpheniramine?
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. Chlorpheniramine is used to treat runny nose, sneezing, itching, and watery eyes caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu. Chlorpheniramine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking chlorpheniramine?
You should not use chlorpheniramine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- narrow-angle glaucoma;
- a blockage in your stomach or intestines;
- an enlarged prostate;
- if you are unable to urinate; or
- if you are having an asthma attack.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take chlorpheniramine if you have:
- a blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines), a colostomy or ileostomy;
- liver or kidney disease;
- asthma or COPD, cough with mucus, or cough caused by smoking, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis;
- high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, or recent heart attack;
- epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
- urination problems;
- pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor); or
- overactive thyroid.
FDA pregnancy category B. Chlorpheniramine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine without your doctor's advice if you are pregnant.
Chlorpheniramine may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Antihistamines may also slow breast milk production. Do not use this medicine without your doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Artificially sweetened cold medicine may contain phenylalanine. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU), check the medication label to see if the product contains phenylalanine.
How should I take chlorpheniramine?
Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. This medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.
Do not take 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 or skin rash.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
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.
If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon or doctor ahead of time if you have taken this medicine within the past few days.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow the liquid form of this medicine to freeze.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since this medicine is taken when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.
What should I avoid while taking chlorpheniramine?
This medicine may cause blurred vision or impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of chlorpheniramine.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, allergy, or sleep medicine. Antihistamines 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.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Chlorpheniramine can decrease sweating and you may be more prone to heat stroke.
What are the possible side effects of chlorpheniramine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using chlorpheniramine and call your doctor at once if you have:
- fast or uneven heart rate;
- mood changes;
- tremor, seizure (convulsions);
- easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
- feeling short of breath; or
- little or no urinating.
Common side effects may include:
- dizziness, drowsiness;
- dry mouth, nose, or throat;
- constipation;
- blurred vision; or
- feeling nervous or restless.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect chlorpheniramine?
Taking chlorpheniramine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking chlorpheniramine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about chlorpheniramine.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.03. Revision date: 4/22/2013.
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