acetaminophen / chlorpheniramine / dextromethorphan
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu is a combination of three medications: acetaminophen (a pain reliever), chlorpheniramine (an antihistamine), and dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant). It's used to relieve symptoms of the common cold or flu in adults and children. Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu is a tablet that's taken by mouth, typically every 4 hours. But the combination of medications (acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine, and dextromethorphan) can also be found under other brand names as a liquid solution. Possible side effects of this medication include sleepiness and dizziness.
What is Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu?
What is Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu used for?
Short-term relief of symptoms from the common cold or flu:
Cough
Runny nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Headache
Minor aches and pains
Fever
How Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu works
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu is a combination of three medications that work together to relieve symptoms caused by the common cold or flu.
Acetaminophen is a pain reliever. It blocks chemicals in your body to help treat pain and lower fever.
Chlorpheniramine is a first-generation antihistamine. It blocks a natural substance in your body called histamine. In doing so, chlorpheniramine lowers inflammation (swelling) and relieves runny nose, itchy nose, and sneezing.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that works in the brain to lower your urge to cough.
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What are the side effects of Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu?
Common Side Effects
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
Other Side Effects
- Blurry vision
- Trouble urinating
Serious Side Effects
- Allergic reactions: rash; hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Serious skin reaction: skin reddening, blisters, rash
- Liver damage: severe stomach pain, yellowing of skin or eyes, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
- Excessive sleepiness or dizziness
- Serotonin syndrome: fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, high fever, confusion
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
- Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
- Trouble passing urine
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Headache
Pros and cons of Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu
Pros
Can relieve multiple cold or flu symptoms
Taken by mouth
Available as tablet and liquid
Available over the counter
Cons
Older adults at higher risk for certain side effects, like dizziness and drowsiness
Not for young children; higher risk for hyperactivity
Might need to take as often as every 4 hours to relieve symptoms
Pharmacist tips for Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu can make you feel sleepy or dizzy during the day. This can affect your ability to think, or react. Don't drive or do any task that needs a lot of focus until you know how the medication affects you.
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu is only meant to temporarily relieve cold or flu symptoms. This medication isn't appropriate for you if your condition worsens or if your symptoms last more than a few days. If you're not getting any better after 3 to 5 days, contact your primary care provider (PCP) because you might need more medical attention.
Speak to your primary care provider if your sore throat pain is severe, lasts for more than 2 days, or occurs with or is followed by fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting. Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu might not be the best option for your condition.
Tell your primary care provider or pharmacist about all the medications you're taking, especially if you're taking warfarin (Coumadin) or sleep or anxiety medications. These medications can have potentially harmful interactions with Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu. Your healthcare team can make sure your medications are safe for you to take.
Make sure you read the ingredients label on all the medications you're taking. Many over-the-counter cold and flu medications contain the same ingredients as those in Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu. Taking more than one cough suppressant, pain reliever, or antihistamine at the same time can raise the risk of overdose and severe side effects, such as breathing problems and liver damage.
Don't take Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu at the same time as or within 2 weeks of taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as selegiline or phenelzine (Nardil). This combination can raise your risk for severe side effects (e.g., serotonin syndrome, dizziness). Instead, contact your primary care provider for other options to treat your cold or flu symptoms.
Frequently asked questions about Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu
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What are the risks and warnings for Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu?
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu 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.
Liver damage
Risk factors: Drinking three or more alcoholic beverages a day | Taking other medications containing acetaminophen | Taking too much Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu | History of liver disease
Taking too much acetaminophen can cause permanent and life-threatening liver damage. For adults, the maximum amount of acetaminophen that can be taken is 3 grams or 4 grams in a 24-hour period, depending on your primary care provider's instructions. For children, ask your child's pediatrician.
Speak to a healthcare professional before taking Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu if you have liver problems, since it can cause further damage to your liver. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication.
Signs of liver problems include dark urine, fatigue, stomach pain, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your primary care provider right away.
Serotonin syndrome
Risk factors: Taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) 14 days before starting Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu | 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 Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu 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 primary care provider knows about all the medications you take (including over-the-counter medications and supplements) before starting Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu so they can check that your medications are safe for you. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, high fever, and confusion. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms.
Accidental overdose
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu contains an analgesic (acetaminophen), antihistamine (chlorpheniramine), and a cough suppressant (dextromethorphan), which can be found in many other over-the-counter products. Taking more than one medication containing acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine (or other antihistamine), or dextromethorphan can lead to an accidental overdose and cause serious side effects. These serious side effects include liver failure, seizures, hallucinations (seeing things that aren't real), or even death.
To prevent an accidental overdose, read package labels carefully. If you're not sure if a product has any similar ingredients, ask your pharmacist. If you or your loved one 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: Liver disease | Glaucoma | Cough from asthma or another breathing problem | Mucus-producing cough | Breathing problems (e.g., emphysema, long-term bronchitis)
Don't take Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu if you have any of the risk factors listed above unless your primary care provider said it's safe to do so. Taking this medication can worsen your condition(s) and cause serious side effects. Make sure your healthcare team knows about all medical conditions you have or have had in the past before starting Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu.
Allergic skin reactions
Although rare, the acetaminophen in Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu can cause serious skin reactions, such as rash, blisters, skin reddening, or skin peeling. If you notice changes in your skin, stop using Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu and get medical attention right away.
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 325mg/2mg/10mg | 30 tablets | $4.31 | $0.14 |
Typical dosing for Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu
Acetaminophen / chlorpheniramine / dextromethorphan combinations are made by several manufacturers. Be sure to check the medication box for specific instructions for your product.
Examples include:
Tablets
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu and generics
Each tablet contains 325 mg of acetaminophen, 2 mg of chlorpheniramine, and 10 mg of dextromethorphan.
Adults and children age 12 years or older: The typical dose is 2 tablets by mouth every 4 hours while you're having symptoms. Don't take more than 10 tablets (5 doses) in a 24-hour period, or as directed by a healthcare professional (HCP).
Children under 12 years old: Ask your child's pediatrician.
Oral suspension
Children's Tylenol + Cold + Cough + Runny Nose and generics
Each 5 mL contains 160 mg of acetaminophen, 1 mg of chlorpheniramine, and 5 mg of dextromethorphan. Use the weight cut-off to find the correct dose. If you don't know your child's weight, use the age cut-off.
Children weighing 48 to 95 pounds, or 6 to 11 years old: The typical dose is 10 mL by mouth every 4 hours while symptoms last. Don't give more than 5 doses in a 24-hour period.
Children weighing less than 48 pounds, or younger than 6 years old: Don't use unless directed by your child's pediatrician.
How much does Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu cost?
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu contraindications
Taking Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu with any other medication containing acetaminophen, another antihistamine, or dextromethorphan
Currently take or have taken an MAOI in the last 2 weeks
What are alternatives to Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Flu?
Short-term relief of symptoms from the common cold or flu:
Cough
Runny nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Headache
Minor aches and pains
Fever
Minor aches and pains
Headache
Cough
Sore throat
Runny nose
Sneezing
Itchy nose or throat
Itchy, watery eyes due to hay fever or allergies
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Headache
Minor aches and pains
Fever
Runny nose
Sneezing
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References
Best studies we foundBayer HealthCare LLC. (2023). Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Multi Symptom Flu- acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine maleate, dextromethorphan hydrobromide tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Gerriets, V., et al. (2024). Acetaminophen. StatPearls.
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (2024). Childrens Tylenol Cold Plus Cough Plus Runny Nose- acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine maleate, and dextromethorphan hydrobromide suspension [package insert]. DailyMed.
Lopes, R. D., et al. (2011). Warfarin and acetaminophen interaction: A summary of the evidence and biologic plausibility. Blood.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2016). FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of rare but serious skin reactions with the pain reliever/fever reducer acetaminophen.
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