children's dextromethorphan/phenylephrine
Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough is a combination of two medications: dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) and phenylephrine (a decongestant). It's used to treat congestion and cough symptoms from the common cold and allergies. This medication is available over the counter.
What is Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough?
What is Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough used for?
Short-term relief of symptoms from the common cold or allergies:
- Stuffy nose
- Sinus pressure and congestion
- Cough
How Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough works
Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough is a combination of two medications that work together to relieve cough and congestion symptoms caused by the common cold and allergies.
- Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that works in the brain to lower your urge to cough.
- Phenylephrine is a decongestant that clears your sinuses to relieve sinus pressure and stuffy nose. It works by making the blood vessels around your nose and sinuses more narrow, so less fluid leaks out.
Drug facts
Side effects of Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Less Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach discomfort
Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serotonin syndrome: fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, high fever, confusion
- Signs of an overdose: distress, confusion, high blood pressure, breathing problems, heart rhythm problems, seizures, loss of consciousness
Pros and cons of Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough
Pros
- Works well to treat cough and congestion symptoms
- Conveniently combines two medications in a single dose
- Available over the counter
- Available as a lower-cost, generic medication
- Comes as a fruit-flavored liquid for better taste
Cons
- Only available as a liquid
- Might need to take as often as every 4 hours to relieve symptoms
- More difficult to customize the dose since it's a fixed combination of two medications
- Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough brand contains sodium, so not a good option for children on a low-salt diet
- Some products contain alcohol
Pharmacist tips for Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough
- Use the medication dose cup or oral syringe that comes with the product to measure your child's dose of Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough. Don't use household spoons, because they aren't accurate and might cause you to give the wrong dose.
- Your child can take Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough with or without food. If it upsets your child's stomach, try giving the medication with food.
- Stop using Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough and contact your child's provider if they feel nervous, dizzy, or have trouble sleeping. Also don't give your child Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough and speak to their provider if 1) their symptoms don't get better within 1 week or occur with a fever; 2) their cough comes back or occurs with a fever, rash or headache; or 3) their cough gets worse or lasts for more than 1 week. These might be signs of a more serious medical condition that Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough might not be able to treat.
- Tell your provider or pharmacist about all the medications your child is taking. Also, don't give your child any new medications while they're taking Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough, particularly other medications containing cough suppressants or decongestants, without talking to your child's provider or pharmacist first. They can check for drug interactions and make sure Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough is safe for your child to take with these other medications.
- Don't give your child Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough if they're taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have taken an MAOI in the last 2 weeks. This combination can raise the risk for severe side effects (e.g., serotonin syndrome, high blood pressure, dizziness). Contact your child's provider for other options to treat their cough and congestion.
Common questions about Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough
Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough is generally safe to take, but it might not be the best choice for everyone. If your child has a cough that has lasted for a long time, a cough that occurs with asthma, a cough with a lot of mucus, or is on a salt-restricted diet, this medication might not be right for them. Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough can also worsen heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, or diabetes. If your child has any of these medical conditions, ask their provider if Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough is safe for them.
Yes, you can give Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough to your child as needed (up to every 4 hours) for their cough and congestion. However, while your child is having symptoms, it's recommended they take the medication on a scheduled basis by following the packaging directions or your child's provider's instructions. That way, the medication can give your child the most symptom relief.
Children who don't meet the age cut-offs written on the medication box can't use Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough. The amount of medication in the product might be too high for these children. Having too much medication in the body can raise the risk for overdose and side effects. Before giving a child Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough, check the age cut-off on the medication box and bottle to make sure it's safe. Ask your child's provider if you're not sure. If your child has cough or congestion symptoms and can't use Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough, ask your child's provider or pharmacist for other options.
While it's safe for adults to use Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough, it's recommended for this group of people to use other available products for cough and congestion that are made for adults. In general, children's medications don't contain high enough doses of the active ingredients that adults would typically need to relieve their symptoms. This means an adult would need to take a large volume of children's formulations to take the correct dose. If you're an adult with cough and congestion, ask your pharmacist or provider about the many other available options for you.
This combination medication is available as brand-name (e.g., Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough, Triaminic Day Time Cold and Cough) and generic formulations (e.g., Children's Cold and Cough Day Time). These formulations are fruit-flavored liquids that contain the same amount of dextromethorphan and phenylephrine per dose. It's important to know that Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough contains sodium, so it might not be the best choice for children on a salt-restricted diet. Children's Cold and Cough Day Time contains a small amount of alcohol. Your pharmacist or provider can help you choose the best product for your child.
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Risks and warnings for Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough
Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Serotonin syndrome
- Risk factors: Taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within 14 days before starting Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough | Taking other medications that raise serotonin levels in your brain
Serotonin syndrome is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition where there's too much serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemicals in your brain responsible for your mood. Your risk for this condition goes up if you use Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough with other medications that affect serotonin levels, such as antidepressants (e.g., sertraline (Zoloft), duloxetine (Cymbalta)), MAOIs (e.g., phenelzine (Nardil)), lithium, and certain migraine medications (e.g., sumatriptan (Imitrex)). Make sure your provider knows about all the medications your child is taking (including over-the-counter medications and supplements) before starting Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough so they can check that this medication is safe for them. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, high fever, and confusion. Get medical help immediately if your child experiences any of these symptoms.
Accidental overdose
Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough contains a cough suppressant (dextromethorphan) and a decongestant (phenylephrine), which can be found in many other over-the-counter products. Using more than one medication containing dextromethorphan or a decongestant can lead to an accidental overdose and cause serious side effects. These serious side effects include signs of distress, confusion, high blood pressure, seizures, heart rhythm problems, loss of consciousness, and breathing problems.
To prevent an accidental overdose, read package labels carefully. If you aren't sure if a product has any similar ingredients, ask your pharmacist. If your child experiences an accidental overdose, get medical help as soon as possible or contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
Worsening of medical conditions
- Risk factors: Heart disease or high blood pressure | Thyroid disease | High blood sugar (diabetes) | Cough from asthma | Mucus-producing cough
Don't give your child Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough if they have any of the risk factors listed above unless their provider said it's safe to do so. Taking Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough can worsen your child's condition(s) and cause serious side effects. Make sure your child's provider knows about all of their medical conditions before starting Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough.
Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough dosage
Typical dosage for Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough
Each 5 mL contains 5 mg of dextromethorphan and 2.5 mg of phenylephrine.
- Children ages 6 to under 12 years: The typical dose is 10 mL (2 teaspoonfuls) by mouth every 4 hours.
- Children ages 4 to under 6 years: The typical dose is 5 mL (1 teaspoonful) by mouth every 4 hours.
- Children under 4 years old: Ask your child's provider.
Don't give more than 6 doses in a 24-hour period.
Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough will not be safe for you to take.
- Currently take or have taken an MAOI in the last 2 weeks
What are alternatives to Children's Sudafed PE Cold Plus Cough?
Short-term relief of symptoms from the common cold or allergies: