brompheniramine / phenylephrine
Brompheniramine/phenylephrine is a combination medication that helps to temporarily relieve symptoms of cold and allergies, such as watery eyes, stuffy nose, and itchy throat. It's taken by mouth and available in both a liquid and a tablet form, and as lower-cost generic medications.
What is Brompheniramine/phenylephrine?
What is Brompheniramine/phenylephrine used for?
Short-term relief of symptoms from allergies and the common cold:
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Itching of the nose or throat
- Itchy or watery eyes
How Brompheniramine/phenylephrine works
Brompheniramine/phenylephrine is a combination of two medications that work together to relieve symptoms caused by allergies and the common cold.
- Brompheniramine (an antihistamine) blocks histamine, a chemical that causes sneezing, itching, and other allergy or cold symptoms.
- Phenylephrine (a decongestant) makes the blood vessels around your nose and sinus more narrow, which helps to relieve congestion and pressure.
Drug facts
Side effects of Brompheniramine/phenylephrine
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
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
Less Common Side Effects
- Trouble sleeping
- Feeling restless
- Headache
- Trouble urinating
- Hyperactivity (more common in children)
Brompheniramine/phenylephrine serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Excessive sleepiness or dizziness
- High blood pressure or heart rate: chest pain, blurry vision, headache, fatigue
The following Brompheniramine/phenylephrine 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
- Heart palpitations—rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Increase in blood pressure
- 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):
- Anxiety, nervousness
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
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Pros and cons of Brompheniramine/phenylephrine
Pros
- Combines two medications into one product for convenience
- Can treat multiple allergy and common cold symptoms
- Available over the counter without a prescription
Cons
- Might need to take multiple times a day to relieve symptoms
- More difficult to customize the dose since it's a fixed combination
- Might not be a good choice for people over 65 years old or people with glaucoma, breathing problems, stomach problems, or urinary problems
Pharmacist tips for Brompheniramine/phenylephrine
- Brompheniramine/phenylephrine liquid comes with a medication dosing cup. Be sure to use this cup to measure your dose of brompheniramine/phenylephrine. Don't use household spoons to measure because they're not accurate and might cause you to take the wrong dose.
- Don't drink alcohol while taking this medication because it can make you more tired and dizzy. Don't drive or do anything that needs a lot of focus until you know how this medication affects you.
- Brompheniramine/phenylephrine can raise your blood pressure. If you have heart problems or high blood pressure, ask your provider if it's safe for you to take brompheniramine/phenylephrine.
- Stop using brompheniramine/phenylephrine and contact your provider if you get nervous, dizzy, or can't sleep. Contact your provider also if your symptoms don't get better within a week of starting brompheniramine/phenylephrine or if you develop a fever. These might be signs that you need more medical attention.
- Don't start any new medications while taking brompheniramine/phenylephrine, especially other antihistamines or decongestants, without talking to your provider or pharmacist first. Doing so can raise your risk of overdose and severe side effects, including seizures, hallucinations (seeing things that are not real), daytime sleepiness, dizziness, and high blood pressure, or even death.
- Don't take brompheniramine/phenylephrine if you're taking or have taken an monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as selegiline (Eldepryl) or phenelzine (Nardil), within the past 2 weeks. This combination can cause dangerous changes to your blood pressure. If you have taken an MAOI in the past 2 weeks, contact your provider for other options to treat your symptoms.
- Store brompheniramine/phenylephrine up and away and out of children's reach and sight. Always put medication away every time you use it. This prevents them from accidentally swallowing any medication that was left out. If you think that your child might’ve accidentally swallowed brompheniramine/phenylephrine, call your Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away even if you aren't completely sure.
Common questions about Brompheniramine/phenylephrine
If you've other medical conditions, ask your provider if brompheniramine/phenylephrine is safe for you. Brompheniramine/phenylephrine might worsen certain medical conditions, such as heart problems, high blood pressure, or prostate problems. In addition, this medication might not be safe if you're also taking certain medications, such as opioids or other antihistamines, because these combinations can worsen side effects like sleepiness or dizziness.
Yes, you can take brompheniramine/phenylephrine as needed. But taking it regularly according to the manufacturer's directions while you're having symptoms might bring you the most relief from your cold or allergy. Consider using the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking brompheniramine/phenylephrine since it can raise your risk of sleepiness and dizziness.
There isn't enough information available to know if brompheniramine/phenylephrine is safe to take during pregnancy. But brompheniramine, the antihistamine in Dimetapp, can possibly cause birth defects, especially if taken during the first trimester of pregnancy. In general, it's best to choose a medication with only one active ingredient when you're pregnant. This is so that you're not exposing yourself and your baby to unnecessary medications. If you're currently pregnant, talk with your provider about the best treatment options for you and your unborn baby before using any over-the-counter products.
Children less than 6 years old can't use brompheniramine/phenylephrine because the dosage is too high for them, which raises the risk for overdose and side effects. In some cases, brompheniramine/phenylephrine have caused overexcitement in children. If your child is having allergy or common cold symptoms, ask your child's provider or pharmacist for other options.
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Risks and warnings for Brompheniramine/phenylephrine
Brompheniramine/phenylephrine 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.
Worsening of medical conditions
- Risk factors: Glaucoma | Heart problems | High blood pressure | Thyroid problems | High blood sugar | Breathing problems | Urinary problems
Don't take brompheniramine/phenylephrine if you have any of the risk factors listed above unless your provider said it was safe to do so. Taking brompheniramine/phenylephrine can worsen your condition(s) and cause serious side effects. Make sure your provider knows about all medical conditions you have or have had in the past before starting brompheniramine/phenylephrine.
Accidental overdose
Brompheniramine/phenylephrine contains an antihistamine (brompheniramine) and a decongestant (phenylephrine), which are in many other over-the-counter products. Using more than one medication containing an antihistamine or decongestant, including products used on the skin, can lead to an accidental overdose and cause rare, but serious side effects, including high blood pressure, daytime sleepiness, dizziness, seizures, hallucinations (seeing things that are not real), or even death. Don't start any new medications while taking brompheniramine/phenylephrine without talking to your provider or pharmacist. If you're not sure if a product has an antihistamine or a decongestant, 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.
Brompheniramine/phenylephrine dosage
Bottle of oral solution| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 118ml of 2mg/5mg/10ml | 1 bottle | $7.40 | $7.40 |
Typical dosage for Brompheniramine/phenylephrine
Brompheniramine/phenylephrine made by different manufacturers might have different directions and age-cutoffs. To make sure you're taking this medication correctly, follow the specific product instructions on the package or talk with your provider or pharmacist about how to take it. Some examples include:
Each 10 mL of Dimetapp Cold & Allergy contains 2 mg of brompheniramine and 5 mg of phenylephrine
- Adult and children age 12 years and older: The typical dose is 20 mL by mouth every 4 hours. Don't take more than 6 doses in a 24-hour period.
- Children age 6 years to under 12 years old: The typical dose is 10 mL by mouth every 4 hours. Don't take more than 6 doses in a 24-hour period.
- Children age younger than 6 years old: Don't take.
Each tablet of Ru-Hist D contains 4 mg of brompheniramine and 10 mg of phenylephrine
- Adult and children age 12 years and older: The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth every 4 hours. Don't take more than 6 tablets in a 24-hour period.
- Children age 6 years to under 12 years: The typical dose is 1/2 tablet by mouth every 4 hours. Don't take more than 3 tablets in a 24-hour period.
- Children age less than 6 years: Ask your child's provider.
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Brompheniramine/phenylephrine 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 Brompheniramine/phenylephrine will not be safe for you to take.
- Use as a sedative for children
- Taking a MAOI in the last 14 days
What are alternatives to Brompheniramine/phenylephrine?
Short-term relief of symptoms from allergies and the common cold:
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