Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Phenylhistine DH Expectorant

Generic Name: chlorpheniramine, codeine, and pseudoephedrine (Pronunciation: klor fen EER a meen, KOE deen, SOO doe ee FED rin)

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

What is chlorpheniramine, codeine, and pseudoephedrine (Phenylhistine DH Expectorant)?

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.

Codeine is a narcotic cough suppressant that affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.

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

The combination of chlorpheniramine, codeine, and pseudoephedrine is used to treat cough, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, runny nose, stuffy nose, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.

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

What are the possible side effects of chlorpheniramine, codeine, and pseudoephedrine (Phenylhistine DH Expectorant)?

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 chlorpheniramine, codeine, and pseudoephedrine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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

Less serious side effects may include:

• dry mouth;
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, loss of appetite;
• mild dizziness, drowsiness, problems with memory or concentration;
• warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;
• feeling restless or excited (especially in children);
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• skin rash or itching.

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 chlorpheniramine, codeine, and pseudoephedrine (Phenylhistine DH Expectorant)?

Do not take this medication with alcohol, other narcotic medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous side effects may result.

Codeine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, allergy, or pain medicine. Chlorpheniramine, pseudoephedrine, and cough suppressants 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, decongestant, or cough suppressant.

This medication 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.

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