Extendryl Chews
Generic Name: chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine (klor fen IR a meen, meth skoe POL a meen, fen il EFF rin)
Brand Names: Aerohist Plus, Ah-Chew, Chlor-Mes, Dallergy, Denaze, Duradryl, Durahist PE, DuraTan PE, Extendryl Chews, Histatab PH, Liqui-Allergy, Norel SD, Omnihist L.A., Ralix, Redur-PCM, Rescon MX
What is Extendryl Chews (chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine)?
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.
Methscopolamine is an anticholinergic (an-tye-kol-in-URJ-ik) that has a drying effect on
the nasal passages.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated
blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine is used to
treat runny nose, sneezing, itchy throat, watery eyes, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, the
common cold, or the flu.
Chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine may also be used for purposes
other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about
Extendryl Chews (chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine)?
Do not use this 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 cold or allergy medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Before using this medicine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure,
or a heart rhythm disorder, circulation problems, glaucoma, diabetes, a thyroid disorder, kidney
disease, or problems with urination.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, cough, or allergy medication without first
asking your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take
too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it
contains chlorpheniramine or phenylephrine.
Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 5 days of treatment, or
if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking
Extendryl Chews (chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine)?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to chlorpheniramine,
methscopolamine, phenylephrine, or to other cold or allergy medicines, diet pills, stimulants, or
ADHD medications.
Do not use this 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 a cold or allergy medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your
body.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have:
-
heart disease, high blood pressure, or a heart rhythm disorder;
-
a blood vessel disorder or circulation problems;
-
glaucoma;
-
diabetes;
-
a thyroid disorder;
-
kidney disease;
-
asthma;
-
an enlarged prostate; or
-
problems with urination.
This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your
doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
This medication can decrease breast milk production, and also may pass into breast
milk and could 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 cold medicine 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 Extendryl Chews (chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine)?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label. Cold medicine is usually taken for only a short time until your symptoms
clear up.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
It is best to take this medicine with food.
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 for one.
The suspension liquid form should be shaken well just before you measure a
dose.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release tablet unless your doctor tells
you to. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body.
Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
However, some extended-release pills can be broken to split the dose. Ask your doctor or
pharmacist if you have questions.
The chewable tablet must be chewed completely before you swallow it.
Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 5 days of treatment, or if you
have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
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.
Store this medicine at room temperature, away from heat, light, and moisture.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do
not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine. Symptoms of an overdose may include feeling restless or nervous, nausea, vomiting,
extreme drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, uneven heart rate, fainting, or seizure
(convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking Extendryl Chews (chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine)?
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 becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and
medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by chlorpheniramine or
methscopolamine. Tell your doctor if you need to use any of these other medicines.
Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications)
without your doctor's advice.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, cough, or allergy medication without first
asking your doctor or pharmacist. Chlorpheniramine and phenylephrine are contained in many
medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally
take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it
contains chlorpheniramine or phenylephrine.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can add to drowsiness caused by an antihistamine.
Extendryl Chews (chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine) 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.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these
serious side effects:
-
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
-
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;
-
increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision,
trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure); or
-
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Keep using the medication and talk with your doctor if you have any
of these less serious side effects:
-
blurred vision;
-
dry mouth;
-
nausea, stomach pain, constipation;
-
mild loss of appetite;
-
dizziness, drowsiness, headache;
-
problems with memory or concentration;
-
ringing in your ears;
-
restlessness or excitability (especially in children);
-
warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;
-
cold feeling in your hands or feet;
-
sleep problems (insomnia); or
-
skin rash or itching.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Extendryl Chews (chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine)?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any other antihistamine or
decongestant pills, liquids, or nasal sprays. Also tell your doctor if you are using any of the
following drugs:
-
pramlintide (Symlin);
-
aspirin or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills,
Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others);
-
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon) or
desipramine (Norpramin);
-
bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin
(Ditropan, Oxytrol) or tolterodine (Detrol);
-
a diuretic (water pill), or medicines to treat high blood
pressure, angina (chest pain), or other heart conditions;
-
medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome;
-
medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as
chlorpromazine (Thorazine), risperidone (Risperdal), trazodone (Desyrel);
-
migraine headache medication such as sumatriptan
(Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig), ergotamine (Ergostat, Ergomar); or
-
seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol) or
phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine, or you may need dosage adjustments or
special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine,
and phenylephrine. 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.
Where can I get more information?
-
Your pharmacist has information about chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and
phenylephrine written for health professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine is available with a prescription
under many different brand names. Generic forms may also be available. Ask your pharmacist
any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
-
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.
- 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 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.01. Revision Date: 05/08/2007 3:33:57 PM.
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