Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Carbetaplex, MonteCough

Generic Name: carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Pronunciation: kar BET a PEN tane, gwye FEN e sin, and FEN il EFF rin)

• What is carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?
• What are the possible side effects of carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?
• What is the most important information I should know about carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?
• How should I take carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?
• What happens if I overdose (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?
• What should I avoid while taking carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?
• What other drugs will affect carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?

Carbetapentane is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen congestion in your chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through your mouth.

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

The combination of carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine is used to treat stuffy nose, sinus congestion, cough, and chest congestion caused by sinusitus, bronchitis, or the common cold or flu.

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

What are the possible side effects of carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?

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 carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• fast or pounding heartbeats;
• confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Less serious side effects may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness, headache, weakness;
• dry mouth, nose, or throat, increased sweating or urination;
• nausea, mild stomach pain;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• feeling restless or excited (especially in children).

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 carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (Carbetaplex, MonteCough)?

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.

You should not use this medication if you have severe high blood pressure, severe colitis or toxic megacolon, or if you are unable to urinate.

Do not use cough and cold medicine if you have untreated or uncontrolled diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, or overactive thyroid.

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.

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