Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Welltuss EXP

Generic Name: dihydrocodeine, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine (Pronunciation: dye hye dro KOE deen, gwye FEN e sin, and soo doe e FED rin)

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

What is dihydrocodeine, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine (Welltuss EXP)?

Dihydrocodeine is in a group of drugs called narcotics. It is a cough suppressant that 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.

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

The combination of dihydrocodeine, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine is used to treat cough, nasal, and sinus congestion, and to reduce chest congestion caused by the common cold, infections, or allergies.

Dihydrocodeine, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of dihydrocodeine, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine (Welltuss EXP)?

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

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
• shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;
• seizure (convulsions);
• cold, clammy skin;
• severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness, tremors;
• confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure).

Less serious side effects may include:

• dizziness or headache;
• constipation;
• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, mild loss of appetite;
• feeling excited or restless;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin; 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 dihydrocodeine, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine (Welltuss EXP)?

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.

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

Dihydrocodeine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Dihydrocodeine should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cough or cold medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of one or more types of medicine. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains guaifenesin or pseudoephedrine.

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