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.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2007 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.