Histex-Ac
Histex-AC is a combination of three medications, codeine, phenylephrine, and triprolidine. It's used to treat symptoms of the common cold and allergies.
What is Histex-AC?
What is Histex-AC used for?
Short-term relief of symptoms due to the common cold or allergies, including:
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy nose or throat
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Cough
- Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
- Sinus congestion
How Histex-AC works
Histex-AC is a combination of three medications that work together to relieve symptoms caused by the common cold and allergies.
- Codeine is an opioid that works in your brain to lower your urge to cough.
- Phenylephrine is a decongestant that clears your sinuses to relieve sinus pressure.
- Triprolidine is an antihistamine. It blocks a natural substance in your body called histamine that normally causes allergy symptoms. By blocking histamine, triprolidine relieves runny or itchy nose, sneezing, and watery eyes.
Drug facts
Risks and warnings for Histex-AC
Histex-AC 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.
Accidental overdose
Histex-AC contains an opioid (codeine), decongestant (phenylephrine), and an antihistamine (triprolidine), which are ingredients found in many other prescription and over-the-counter products. Using more than one medication containing an opioid, a decongestant, or an antihistamine or taking more Histex-AC than prescribed can lead to an accidental overdose and cause serious side effects, including slowed breathing, seizures, hallucinations (seeing things that aren't real), or even death.
Tell your provider or pharmacist about the medications you take before starting Histex-AC to make sure it's safe for you. Don't start any new medications while taking Histex-AC without talking to your provider or pharmacist.
To prevent an accidental overdose, read package labels carefully. If you're not sure if a product has an opioid, a decongestant, or an antihistamine, ask your pharmacist. If you or your loved one experiences an accidental overdose, get medical help right away or contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
Drowsiness and decreased alertness
- Risk factors: Drinking alcohol while taking Histex-AC | Taking other medications that cause drowsiness | Age 65 and older
Histex-AC can make you very sleepy, which can affect your ability to focus, think, or react. This side effect is more likely to happen or be more intense if you're over 65 years old, drink alcohol while taking Histex-AC, or take other medications that cause sleepiness (e.g., other opioids, benzodiazepines, sleep medications). Don't drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
Worsening of medical conditions
- Risk factors: Breathing problems (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung conditions) | Cough from smoking, asthma, or emphysema | Mucus-producing cough | Heart disease or high blood pressure | Diabetes | Thyroid problems | Glaucoma | Urinary conditions (e.g., enlarged prostate)
Don't take Histex-AC if you have any of the risk factors listed above unless your provider said it's safe to do so. Taking Histex-AC can worsen your condition(s) and can cause serious side effects. Make sure your provider knows about all medical conditions you have or have had in the past before starting Histex-AC. Speak to your provider if you have concerns.
Side effects of Histex-AC
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.
Common Side Effects
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Blurry vision
- Dry mouth
Less Common Side Effects
- Nervousness
- Sweating
- Headache
Histex-AC serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Slowed breathing
- Overdose: slowed breathing, seizures, hallucinations, not responding to sound or touch, pale or blue skin
Get your GoodRx coupon
Pros and cons of Histex-AC
Pros
- Can treat a wide variety of common cold and allergy symptoms
- Combines three medications in one for convenience
- Available as a liquid
- Can take with or without food
Cons
- Needs to be taken every 4 hours
- Has potential for abuse and misuse
- Can't be used in children under 6 years old
- Not for long-term use
Pharmacist tips for Histex-AC
- When measuring your dose of Histex-AC liquid, use the medication dose cup or oral syringe provided by your pharmacy. Don't use household spoons because they aren't accurate and might cause you to take the wrong dose.
- Histex-AC can make you sleepy or dizzy during the day, which can affect your ability to focus, think, or react. Don't drive or operate machinery until you know how the medication affects you.
- While Histex-AC usually makes adults sleepy, it's possible for children who use this medication to become overly excited or energetic. If this happens to your child, speak to your child's provider.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and taking any sedatives (e.g., benzodiazepines) while taking Histex-AC. Doing so raises your risk of sleepiness, dizziness, and slowed breathing.
- Histex-AC can cause constipation. Make sure to get enough fiber in your diet and drink plenty of water. If you become constipated, there are several over-the-counter options available, such as stimulant laxatives and stool softeners, to help treat it. Ask your provider or pharmacist to help find the best treatment option for you. If you're having constipation that won't go away, contact your provider.
- Stop using Histex-AC and contact your provider if your cough or stuffy nose gets worse or lasts more than 7 days. Also contact your provider if your symptoms come back or you develop a fever, rash, or headache with your cough that won't go away.
- If you feel nervous, dizzy, or have trouble sleeping, stop taking this medication and contact your provider. These might be signs of a different medical condition that Histex-AC can't treat properly.
- Tell your provider or pharmacist about all the medications you or your child is taking to make sure Histex-AC is safe to take. While you're using Histex-AC, talk to your provider or pharmacist first before starting any new medications, especially those containing opioids, decongestants, or antihistamines. Taking these medications with Histex-AC can raise your risk of overdose and severe side effects, including slowed breathing, dizziness, and sleepiness.
- Don't use Histex-AC with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as selegiline, phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). This combination can lead to dangerous changes in your blood pressure. If you've taken an MAOI in the last 2 weeks, don't use Histex-AC and contact your provider for other options to treat your allergy or common cold symptoms.
- If you believe you or your child has overdosed on Histex-AC, call for medical help right away. It contains codeine, which can cause life-threatening breathing problems if you take too much.
Common questions about Histex-AC
Histex-AC is a schedule V controlled medication, because it contains codeine, which is an opioid. Opioids have potential for abuse. "Abuse" means using a medication for certain physical or psychological effects that aren't related to the treatment of a medical condition diagnosed by your provider. Make sure to store Histex-AC in a safe place away from children, since it can cause life-threatening breathing problems if accidentally taken by a child.
Histex-AC is generally safe to take, but it's not the best choice for everyone. Ask your provider before using Histex-AC if you have breathing problems (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, other lung conditions), a cough that occurs with smoking or asthma, glaucoma, trouble urinating due to a large prostate, thyroid problems, heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Histex-AC can make these conditions worse.
Yes, you can use Histex-AC every 4 hours as needed when you're having cold or allergy symptoms. You don't need to take it if your symptoms are better, unless your provider tells you otherwise. You should use the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time to avoid side effects, such as drowsiness and constipation.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, don't use Histex-AC until you've talked to your provider first to make sure it's safe for you to take. Taking products that contain codeine during breastfeeding can lead to drowsiness and breathing problems in your baby.
Children younger than 6 years old can't use Histex-AC because their risk for overdose and side effects is higher. The codeine component of Histex-AC can cause serious life-threatening breathing problems, especially in children younger than 12 years old. If your young child is having common cold or allergy symptoms, ask your child's provider or pharmacist about other treatment options.
How to save using GoodRx
Histex-AC dosage
Ml of oral solution| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg/10mg/2.5mg/5ml | 10 ml | $4.15 | $0.42 |
Typical dosage for Histex-AC
Each 5 mL teaspoonful contains 10 mg of codeine, 10 mg of phenylephrine, and 2.5 mg of triprolidine.
It's recommended to use the lowest dose possible for the shortest duration of time to manage your symptoms.
- Adults and children 12 years or older: The typical dose is 1 teaspoonful (5 mL) by mouth every 4 hours. Don't use more than 4 teaspoonfuls (20 mL) in a 24-hour period.
- Children 6 to 11 years old: The typical dose is one-half teaspoonful (2.5 mL) by mouth every 4 hours. Don't use more than 2 teaspoonfuls (10 mL) in a 24-hour period.
- Children 5 years or younger: Ask your child's provider.
How much does Histex-AC cost?
$4.15
Histex-AC 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 Histex-AC will not be safe for you to take.
- Take or have taken an MAOI in the last 2 weeks
What are alternatives to Histex-AC?
Short-term relief of symptoms due to the common cold or allergies, including: