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What is the most important information I should know about chlorpheniramine-hydrocodone?

Do not take this medication more often than prescribed. An overdose of chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone can cause life-threatening side effects.

To be sure you get the correct dose, measure this medicine carefully with a marked measuring spoon or syringe, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Before you take chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone, tell your doctor if you have asthma or another breathing disorder, a history of head injury or brain tumor, stomach or intestinal problems, liver or kidney disease, glaucoma, urination problems or an enlarged prostate, Addison’s disease, or underactive thyroid.

Chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol while using chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness.

Hydrocodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. This medication 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 give this medicine to a child younger than 6 years old.

Warning

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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What is chlorpheniramine-hydrocodone?

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

Hydrocodone is a narcotic cough suppressant.

The combination of chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone is used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and cough caused by the common cold or flu.

Chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Precautions

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to chlorpheniramine or hydrocodone.

Before taking chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

  • asthma or other breathing disorder;
  • a history of head injury or brain tumor;
  • stomach or intestinal problems;
  • liver or kidney disease;
  • glaucoma;
  • urination problems or an enlarged prostate;
  • Addison's disease; or
  • underactive thyroid.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

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

It is not known whether chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.

Do not give chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone to a child younger than 6 years old.

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol while using chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness.

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Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone can be fatal, especially to a child.

Overdose symptoms may include dry mouth, cold and clammy skin, flushing, large pupils, nausea, vomiting, severe dizziness or drowsiness, seizure (convulsions), shallow breathing, slow heart rate, blue colored skin, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

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Side Effects

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.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • weak or shallow breathing;
  • chest tightness;
  • painful urination;
  • urinating less than usual or not at all; or
  • confusion, hallucinations, or unusual behavior.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • dizziness, drowsiness, trouble concentrating;
  • mood changes, anxiety;
  • blurred vision;
  • constipation, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
  • dry mouth or throat;
  • sweating; or
  • mild itching or skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Interactions

Narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other cold or allergy medicine.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

  • atropine (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
  • bronchodilators such as ipratroprium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva);
  • glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
  • mepenzolate (Cantil);
  • bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);
  • irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine); or
  • an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04