chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine
Generic Name: chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine (klor fen EER uh meen and meth sko POL uh meen)
Brand Names: aeroHist, AlleRx DF Dose Pack, Ryneze
What is chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine?
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 reduces the secretions of certain organs in the body.
The combination of chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine is used to treat symptoms of
the common cold or seasonal allergies, including sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, and itchy,
watery eyes.
Chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine may also be used for purposes other than those
listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about
chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine?
Do not use chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine 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. Dangerous side effects
may occur if you take chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine before the MAO inhibitor has
cleared from your body.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to chlorpheniramine or
methscopolamine, or if you have severe high blood pressure or coronary artery disease,
narrow-angle glaucoma, a stomach ulcer, or if you are unable to urinate.
Do not use this medication during an asthma attack.
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 in hot weather. Chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine
increases the risk of heat stroke because it causes decreased sweating and can make you more
sensitive to sunlight.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of chlorpheniramine
and methscopolamine.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain
medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety), or medicines that
may cause restlessness (such as caffeine, stimulants, diet pills, and decongestants contained in
over-the-counter cold medicines). They can add to the side effects of chlorpheniramine and
methscopolamine.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine?
Do not use chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine 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. Dangerous side effects
may occur if you take chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine before the MAO inhibitor has
cleared from your body.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to chlorpheniramine or
methscopolamine, or if you have:
-
severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
-
severe coronary artery disease;
-
narrow angle glaucoma;
-
a stomach ulcer;
-
if you are unable to urinate; or
-
if you are having an asthma attack.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any
drugs, or if you have:
-
kidney disease;
-
liver disease;
-
diabetes;
-
glaucoma;
-
heart disease, high blood pressure, or circulation
problems;
-
overactive thyroid;
-
a seizure disorder such as epilepsy;
-
asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis; or
-
urination problems or an enlarged prostate.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use
chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine, 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.
Chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine 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.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 6 years old.
How should I take chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine?
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 instructions
on your prescription label.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release tablet or capsule. 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.
The chewable tablet must be chewed before swallowing.
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.
Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse after taking this
medicine for 7 days.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any
doctor who treats you that you are using chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine. You may need
to stop using the medication for a short time before having a medical test.
Store chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine at room temperature away from
moisture, heat, and light.
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 the 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 a chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine overdose may include nausea,
vomiting, severe drowsiness, shallow breathing, ringing in your ears, problems with balance or
coordination, hallucinations (seeing things), sleep problems (insomnia), feeling restless or
excited, blurred vision, tremors, flushed face, and seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine?
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 in hot weather. Chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine
increases the risk of heat stroke because it causes decreased sweating and can make you more
sensitive to sunlight.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of chlorpheniramine
and methscopolamine.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain
medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety), or medicines that
may cause restlessness (such as caffeine, stimulants, diet pills, and decongestants contained in
over-the-counter cold medicines). They can add to the side effects of chlorpheniramine and
methscopolamine.
Chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine 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 chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine and call your doctor at once if
you have any of these serious side effects:
-
problems with balance or coordination;
-
severe drowsiness, feeling light-headed, fainting;
-
extreme thirst and hot, dry skin;
-
breathing problems;
-
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
-
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
-
fast or uneven heart beats;
-
tight feeling in your chest;
-
seizure (convulsions);
-
hallucinations (seeing things that are not there); or
-
tremors.
Continue using this medication and talk with your doctor if you have
any of these less serious side effects:
-
dry mouth, stomach pain, changes in appetite;
-
drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, headache;
-
dry eyes, blurred vision;
-
painful or difficult urination;
-
increased sweating;
-
skin rash; or
-
feeling nervous or excited (especially in children).
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 chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
antacids;
-
medicine to treat diarrhea (such as Immodium, Kaopectate,
Pepto-Bismol);
-
atropine (Donnatal, and others);
-
belladonna;
-
clidinium (Quarzan);
-
dicyclomine (Bentyl);
-
glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
-
hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others);
-
mepenzolate (Cantil);
-
methantheline (Provocholine);
-
methscopolamine (Pamine);
-
propantheline (Pro-Banthine); or
-
scopolamine (Transderm-Scop).
-
a beta-blocker such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol
(Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg),
esmolol (Brevibloc), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol
(Corgard), penbutolol (Levatol), pindolol (Visken), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol
(Betapace), or timolol (Blocadren);
-
a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital
(Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal,
Solfoton); or
-
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon),
amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine
(Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine
(Surmontil).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests
during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect chlorpheniramine and
methscopolamine. 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 additional information about chlorpheniramine and
methscopolamine written for health professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
There are many brand and generic formulations of chlorpheniramine and
methscopolamine available, both over-the-counter and with a prescription. 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: 1.03. Revision Date: 10/31/06 12:39:19 PM.
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