1. The Common Cold Slideshow Pictures
2. Slideshow: Treating Your Child's Cold or Fever
3. Take the Cold & Flu Quiz

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dextromethorphan, phenylephrine, and pyrilamine (Codal-DM Syrup, Codimal DM, Codituss DM, Poly Hist DM)?

Do not use a cough or cold medicine 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. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to dextromethorphan, phenylephrine, or pyrilamine, or if you have:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• diabetes;
• glaucoma;
• heart disease or high blood pressure;
• a thyroid disorder;
• a stomach ulcer or a stomach obstruction;
• emphysema or chronic bronchitis; or
• an enlarged prostate or urination problems.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use dextromethorphan, phenylephrine, and pyrilamine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Dextromethorphan, phenylephrine, and pyrilamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Artificially-sweetened liquid forms of cough-and-cold medications may contain phenylalanine. This would be important to know if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). Check the ingredients and warnings on the medication label if you are concerned about phenylalanine.

How should I take dextromethorphan, phenylephrine, and pyrilamine (Codal-DM Syrup, Codimal DM, Codituss DM, Poly Hist DM)?

Use this medication exactly as directed on the label or as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Measure the liquid form of this medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

Take this medicine with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.

Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a cold medicine within the past few days.

Store the medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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