Medications and Drugs

10 Common Allergy Triggers Slideshow Pictures Take the Quiz on Allergies Nasal Allergy Relief Slideshow Pictures

Brand Names: Benadryl Allergy & Cold, Benadryl Allergy & Sinus Headache, Sudafed PE Severe Cold, Theraflu Severe Cold & Cough Nighttime, Theraflu Warming Flu & Sore Throat, Theraflu Warming Severe Cold Nighttime

Generic Name: acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine (Pronunciation: a SEET a MIN oh fen, DYE fen HYE dra meen, and FEN il EFF rin)

• What is acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine (Benadryl Allergy & Cold, Benadryl Allergy & Sinus Headache, Sudafed PE Severe Cold, Theraflu Severe Cold & Cough Nighttime, Theraflu Warming Flu & Sore Throat, Theraflu Warming Severe Cold Nighttime)?
• What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine?
• What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine?
• How should I take acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine?
• What happens if I miss a dose?
• What happens if I overdose?
• What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine?
• What other drugs will affect acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine?
• Where can I get more information?

What is acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine (Benadryl Allergy & Cold, Benadryl Allergy & Sinus Headache, Sudafed PE Severe Cold, Theraflu Severe Cold & Cough Nighttime, Theraflu Warming Flu & Sore Throat, Theraflu Warming Severe Cold Nighttime)?

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer.

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

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

The combination of acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine is used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sinus congestion, sneezing, itchy nose, itchy or watery eyes, sore throat, cough, headache, and pain or fever caused by allergies or the common cold.

This medication will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.

Acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine?

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

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
• confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure);
• urinating less than usual or not at all; or
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness;
• blurred vision;
• dry mouth;
• mild stomach pain, constipation;
• problems with memory or concentration;
• feeling restless or excited (especially in children);
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin.

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 is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine?

Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough or cold medicine in very young children.

Do not use this medication if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days.

Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can cause damage to your liver.

Do not use any other cough, cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP"), diphenhydramine, or phenylephrine.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase the risk of liver damage while you are taking acetaminophen. If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, do not take acetaminophen without your doctor's advice, and never take more than 2 grams (2000 mg) per day.