Brompheniramine/Pseudoephedrine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antihistamine; decongestant

Generic and brand names: brompheniramine and pseudoephedrine, oral; Andehist; Brofed; Bromfed; Bromfenex; Dimetapp Cold and Allergy Elixir; Histex-SR; Lodrane; Lodrane-LD; Respahist; Touro Allergy; ULTRAbrom

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine contains both an antihistamine and a decongestant. It is taken by mouth to treat the symptoms of colds, hay fever, and sinus problems.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergy to any medicine
• an enlarged prostate gland or trouble urinating
• a lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis
• a peptic (stomach) ulcer
• diabetes
• glaucoma
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• Parkinson's disease
• seizures
• thyroid disease.

Do not take this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days. Using these products together can cause very serious side effects.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. If your healthcare provider has not given you specific instructions, follow the directions that come with the medicine package. Do not take more or take it longer than prescribed. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

This medicine may come in different forms. If you have extended-release tablets, do not break, crush, or chew them. Swallow them whole. Ask your pharmacist if you have the extended-release tablets. If you have the liquid form of this medicine, use a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup to measure the correct dose.

The decongestant in this medicine can cause you to feel nervous or have trouble sleeping. Taking the last dose of the day before 6 PM may help.

You may take this medicine with food or milk to lessen the chance that it may upset your stomach.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may make you drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down the central nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

This medicine may increase the effects of some diet medicines. Do not take any diet medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

If your symptoms do not improve within 7 days or if they get worse, contact your healthcare provider.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, extreme tiredness, weakness, clumsiness, trouble urinating, trouble breathing, hallucinations, vision problems.

Other: Drowsiness, dizziness, heavier phlegm, nervousness, dry eyes, headache, diarrhea, trouble sleeping.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), pindolol, metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), sotalol (Betapace), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), and carvedilol (Coreg)
• calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cardizem), and nicardipine (Cardene)
• herbal remedies such as capsicum, Siberian ginseng, German chamomile, goldenseal, gotu kola, kava, lemon balm, sage, sassafras, yohimbe, ephedra, and valerian
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.)
• methyldopa
• muscle relaxants such as tizanidine (Zanaflex), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), carisoprodol (Soma), methocarbamol (Robaxin), dantrolene Dantrium), and baclofen (Lioresal)
• narcotic analgesics (painkillers) such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox, OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), meperidine (Demerol), and fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq)
• sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton), amobarbital (Amytal), zolpidem (Ambien), triazolam (Halcion), butabarbital (Butisol), and zaleplon (Sonata)
• stimulants (for example, diet pills)
• tranquilizers such as diazepam (Valium), meprobamate (Equanil), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan).

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.