chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine

Skip to the navigation

Pronunciation: klor feh NEER ah meen, dye hye droe KOE deen, feh nill EH frin

Brand: DiHydro-PE, Novahistine DH

What is the most important information I should know about chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine?

You should not use this medicine if you have bladder obstruction or urination problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe coronary artery disease, narrow-angle glaucoma, a stomach ulcer, or uncontrolled asthma.

Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

What is chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine?

Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Dihydrocodeine is a narcotic cough medicine.

Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).

Chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine is a combination medicine used to treat sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes, and cough caused by allergies or the common cold.

Chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine?

You should not use chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

  • bladder obstruction or other urination problems;
  • uncontrolled high blood pressure;
  • severe coronary artery disease (hardened arteries);
  • narrow-angle glaucoma;
  • a stomach ulcer; or
  • uncontrolled asthma.

Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines);
  • heart disease;
  • glaucoma;
  • liver or kidney disease;
  • a head injury or brain tumor;
  • asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorder;
  • a thyroid disorder;
  • diabetes; or
  • pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland).

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. If you use dihydrocodeine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice.

How should I take chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Never take this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Cough or cold medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.

Dihydrocodeine may be habit forming. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Dihydrocodeine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since this medicine is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use 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. A dihydrocodeine overdose can be fatal, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Overdose symptoms may include slow breathing and heart rate, severe drowsiness, muscle weakness, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, and fainting.

What should I avoid while taking chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine?

This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine.

What are the possible side effects of chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

  • pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
  • severe anxiety, confusion, fear;
  • painful or difficult urination;
  • little or no urinating; or
  • dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness, drowsiness, mood changes;
  • feeling excited or irritable;
  • problems with thinking or memory;
  • flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
  • blurred vision; or
  • nausea, dry mouth.

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, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine?

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Other drugs may interact with chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and phenylephrine.

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 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.03. Revision date: 9/28/2015.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.