Rymed
Rymed is a combination of two medications: dexchlorpheniramine (an antihistamine) and phenylephrine (a decongestant). It's an over-the-counter medication that's used to treat symptoms from allergies and the common cold in adults and children 6 years and older. It's available as a tablet that's taken by mouth every 4 hours when you need symptom relief. Possible side effects include sleepiness, restlessness, dizziness, and dry mouth.
What is Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine)?
What is Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) used for?
Short-term relief of symptoms from allergies and the common cold:
Runny nose
Sneezing
Itching of the nose or throat
Itchy or watery eyes
Nasal and sinus congestion
How Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) works
Rymed is a combination of two medications that work together to relieve symptoms caused by allergies and the common cold.
Dexchlorpheniramine is an antihistamine. It blocks histamine, a natural chemical in your body that normally causes allergy and common cold symptoms. By blocking histamine, dexchlorpheniramine helps relieve congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant. It makes the blood vessels around your nose and sinus narrower. This helps clear these areas from congestion and pressure.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine)?
Common Side Effects
- Sleepiness
- Restlessness
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
Other Side Effects
- Trouble urinating
- Changes in blood pressure
- Headache
Source:Â DailyMed
Pros and cons of Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine)
Pros
Starts working within 30 minutes to an hour
Convenient to take two medications in one pill
Can treat a wide range of allergy and common cold symptoms
Available over the counter
Cons
Might need take every 4 hours for symptom relief
Only available as a tablet that shouldn't be crushed
More difficult to customize the dose since it's a fixed combination of two medications
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 Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine)
You can take Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) with or without food. Try taking it with food if it's hurting your stomach.
Ask your primary care provider or pharmacist whether it's safe for you to take Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine). It's possible for this combination medication to raise your blood pressure, heart rate, eye pressure, and blood sugar levels. It can also make it harder for you to urinate.
The dexchlorpheniramine in Rymed can make you feel sleepy or dizzy during the day. This can make you have trouble thinking clearly or react quickly. Don't drive or do any tasks that need a lot of focus until you know how this medication affects you.
It's best to avoid alcohol while you're taking Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine). Alcohol can make side effects like tiredness and dizziness worse.
Don't give your child Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) to help them go to sleep. While this medication usually makes adults sleepy, it can have the opposite effect in children and make them hyper. Contact their pediatrician or a pharmacist for other options if your child is having trouble sleeping.
Let your healthcare team know if your allergy or cold symptoms worsen or last longer than a week. Also contact them if you start to have a fever, rash, or any other new symptoms. These might be signs that you need more medical attention.
Stop taking Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) and contact your healthcare team if you feel dizzy or nervous or if you have trouble sleeping. These might be side effects from the phenylephrine component of Rymed. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, your care team might recommend that you switch to a different option to relieve your symptoms.
Don't start any new medications — especially other antihistamines or decongestants — while you're taking Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) without talking to your primary care provider or pharmacist first. Taking certain medications with Rymed can raise your risk for serious side effects, like daytime sleepiness, dizziness, high blood pressure, and hallucinations.
Don't take Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) if you're currently taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) like selegiline in the last 2 weeks. This combination can cause dangerously high blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist for other options to treat your allergy or cold symptoms.
Store Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) up and away and out of children's reach and sight. This prevents them from accidentally swallowing any medication that's left out. Call your Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away if you think that your child might’ve accidentally swallowed too much medication, even if you aren't completely sure.
Frequently asked questions about Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine)
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What are the risks and warnings for Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine)?
Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / 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.
Sleepiness
Risk factors: Drinking alcohol while you're taking Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) | Taking other medications that cause sleepiness | Older adults
Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) can make you 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. Drinking alcohol or taking Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) with other medications that cause sleepiness, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives can also worsen this side effect. Don't drive or operate machinery until you know how Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) affects you.
Worsening of certain medical conditions
Risk factors: Glaucoma | Heart problems | High blood pressure | Thyroid problems | Diabetes | Urinary problems
Be sure your primary care provider and pharmacist know about the medical conditions you have before you start taking Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine). Ask them whether this medication is safe and appropriate for you to take.
Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) might worsen certain medical conditions, like glaucoma and prostate problems. It might also not be appropriate for you to take if you have long-lasting breathing problems like bronchitis, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or thyroid problems.
Accidentally taking too much medication
Rymed contains an antihistamine (dexchlorpheniramine) and a decongestant (phenylephrine). Antihistamines and decongestants can be found in many other over-the-counter allergy and cold products.
The risk of taking too much of an antihistamine or decongestant is higher if you use more than one product that contains these medications. This can be dangerous and cause serious side effects, like fast heart rate, high blood pressure, severe dizziness, trouble breathing, and changes in behavior.
Carefully read package labels so you know what the ingredients, age-cut offs, and maximum dosing are of your particular product. Ask your primary care provider or pharmacist if you're not sure whether you're taking a product that has similar ingredients as Rymed. Get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away if you think you or a loved one accidentally took too much medication.
Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2mg/10mg | 30 tablets | $9.36 | $0.31 |
Typical dosing for Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine)
Each tablet contains 2 mg of dexchlorpheniramine and 10 mg of phenylephrine.
Adults and children ages 12 years and up: The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth every 4 hours while you're having symptoms. Don't use more than 6 tablets in a 24-hour period.
Children ages 6 to under 12 years old: The typical dose is one-half tablet by mouth every 4 hours while they're having symptoms. Don't give them more than 3 tablets in a 24-hour period.
Children under 6 years old: Ask your child's pediatrician.
How much does Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) cost?
Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) contraindications
Currently take or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 2 weeks
What are alternatives to Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine)?
Short-term relief of symptoms from allergies and the common cold:
Runny nose
Sneezing
Itching of the nose or throat
Itchy or watery eyes
Nasal and sinus congestion
Runny nose
Sneezing
Itchy nose or throat
Itchy, watery eyes
Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
Runny nose
Sneezing
Itchy or watery eyes
Itchy nose or throat
Stuffy nose
Sinus congestion and pressure
Rymed (dexchlorpheniramine / phenylephrine) images
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References
Best studies we foundBorowy, C. S., et al. (2023). Antihistamine toxicity. StatPearls.
Edwards Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2023). Rymed- dexchlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride tablet, coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
Gelotte, C. K., et al. (2015). Pharmacokinetics, safety, and cardiovascular tolerability of phenylephrine HCl 10, 20, and 30 mg after a single oral administration in healthy volunteers. Clinical Drug Investigation.
Hoeft, D. (2014). An overview of clinically significant drug interactions between medications used to treat psychiatric and medical conditions. Mental Health Clinician.
Naclerio, R. M. (1990). The role of histamine in allergic rhinitis. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
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