What is Chlorpheniramine?
Chlorpheniramine medication is an antihistamine which helps in reducing the effects of the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine will cause symptoms like sneezing, itching, watery eyes and runny nose. Chlorpheniramine tablets are used for treating runny nose, sneezing, itching and watery eyes which is caused due to various allergies reactions, the common cold and the flu.
Chlorpheniramine Uses
Chlorpheniramine relieves red, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, itchy nose or throat and runny nose which are caused due to allergies, fever and the common cold. Chlorpheniramine helps in controlling the symptoms of cold and allergies. But medication will not help in speedy recovery. Chlorpheniramine belongs to the class of drug called antihistamines. The drug works by blocking the action of histamine, it’s a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms.
Cough and cold products have not been shown to be safe or effective in children under 6 years of age. Therefore, do not use this product to treat cold symptoms in children under 6 years of age unless specifically directed by a physician. Some products (such as long-acting tablets/capsules) are not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details on the safe use of your product.
To decrease the risk of serious side effects, carefully follow all dosage instructions. Do not give other cough and cold medicines that may contain the same or similar ingredients (see also Drug Interactions section). Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to relieve cough and cold symptoms (such as drinking enough fluids, using a humidifier, or saline nasal drops/sprays)
Chlorpheniramine Side Effects
Some of the common side effects of Chlorpheniramine are:
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth, nose and throat
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Headache
- Increased chest congestion
Some of the serious side effects of Chlorpheniramine are:
- Vision problems
- Difficulty Urinating
If you have any of these serious symptoms immediately contact your doctor for further assistance. In any case, due to Chlorpheniramine if you get any kind of reactions in your body try avoiding it.
A doctor advised you to take the medicines by seeing your problems and the benefits of this medicine are greater than the side effects. Majority of the people who use this medicine don’t show any side effects. Get medical help immediately if you get any serious Chlorpheniramine side effects.
Precautions
Before taking Chlorpheniramine talk to your doctor if you’re allergic to it or any other medications. The medication may contain some inactive ingredients that can cause some serious problems in your body.
Talk to the doctor if you are taking any prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products. If you are having any of the following problems like colds, fever, allergies, anxiety and depression.
Talk to the medication if you have any of the following diseases:
- Asthma
- Emphysema
- Chronic bronchitis
- lung disease
- Glaucoma
- Ulcers
- Diabetes
- Difficulty in urinating.
Interactions
Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription and non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine without your doctor's approval. Some products that can interact with this medicine are: antihistamines applied to the skin. Talk to your doctor if you are taking other products that cause drowsiness, such as opioid pain relievers or cough pain relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone), alcohol and marijuana (cannabis).
How to take Chlorpheniramine?
Chlorpheniramine comes in the form of a tablet, capsule, extended-release tablet, chewable tablet and liquids. The regular capsules, tablets and liquids should be taken in a 4to 6 hours of gap. The extended-release tablet is taken twice a day in the morning and evening as needed. Follow the direction which is written on the prescription and confirm with your doctor if you’re not able to understand.
Chlorpheniramine comes with the combination of fever and pain reducers, expectorants, cough suppressants and decongestants. Ask the doctor for the advice on how can the medications be used for getting the best results. Over-the-counter cough and cold combination products, including products that contain chlorpheniramine, can cause serious side effects or death in young children. Do not give chlorpheniramine products made for adults to children. Give the dose that matches the child's age in the table. Ask your child's doctor if you don't know how much medicine to give.
Dosage
Brand Name: Chlorpheniramine, Diabetic Tussin
Generic name: Chlorpheniramine
Drug Class: Atihistamines, 1st generation
Tablets: 4 mg, 8 mg, 12 mg
Syrup: 2 mcg/ 5 mL
Suspension: 2 mg/ mL
Allergic Rhinitis
Adults
- Tablets/ syrup: 4 mg orally in every 4-6 hours
- Extended-release tablets: 8 mg orally in every 8-12 hours
- Extended-release capsules: 12 mg orally once in a day
- Sustained-release capsules: 8-12 mg orally in every 8- 12 hours of gap.
Pediatric
- Children over 12 years: Tablets or syrup: 4 mg orally every 4-6 hours; do not exceed 24 mg / day
- Prolonged-release tablets: 8 mg orally every 8-12 hours or 12 mg every 12 hours; do not exceed 24 mg / day
- Extended-release capsules: 12 mg orally once a day; do not exceed 24 mg / day
Geriatric
- 4 mg orally once a day or every 12 hours
- Sustained-release: 8 mg orally at bedtime
- Avoid use in the elderly due to the high incidence of anticholinergic effects.
- Reduced clearance with older age, increased risk of confusion, dry mouth, constipation, and other anticholinergic effects and toxicity
Overdose
Overdose of a drug can be accidental. If you have taken more than the prescribed Chlorpheniramine tablets there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body’s functions. Overdose of a medicine can lead to some medical emergency.
Missed Dose
Missing one or two-dose of Chlorpheniramine won’t show any effect on your body. The skipped dose causes no problem. But with some medication, it won’t work if you don’t take the dosage on time. If you miss a dose some sudden chemical change may affect your body. In some cases, your doctor would advise you to take the prescribed medicine as soon as possible if you have missed the dose.
Warnings
This medicine contains chlorpheniramine. Do not take ChlorTrimeton or Diabetic Tussin if you are allergic to chlorpheniramine or any ingredient contained in this medicine.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Use chlorpheniramine with caution during pregnancy if the benefits outweigh the risks. Animal studies show risk and no human studies are available or no animal or human studies were conducted. The excretion of chlorpheniramine in milk is unknown.
Storage
Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. The exposure of medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach.
Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
Before taking chlorpheniramine consult your Doctor. In case if you face any problems or get any side effects after taking chlorpheniramine rush immediately to your nearby hospital or consult your doctor for better treatment. Carry your medications always in your bag while travelling to avoid any immediate emergencies. Follow your prescription and follow your Doctor advice whenever you take chlorpheniramine.
Chlorpheniramine vs Cetirizine
Chlorpheniramine |
Cetirizine |
|---|---|
| Chlorpheniramine medication is an antihistamine which helps in reducing the effects of the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine will cause symptoms like sneezing, itching, watery eyes and runny nose. Chlorpheniramine tablets are used for treating runny nose, sneezing, itching and watery eyes which is caused due to various allergies reactions, the common cold and the flu. | Cetirizine tablets are an antihistamine which are used for relieving the allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, itching eyes/ nose, hives and itching. |
Some of the common side effects of Chlorpheniramine are:
|
Some of the serious side effects of cetirizine are:
|
| Chlorpheniramine relieves red, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, itchy nose or throat and runny nose which are caused due to allergies, fever and the common cold. Chlorpheniramine helps in controlling the symptoms of cold and allergies. But medication will not help in speedy recovery. Chlorpheniramine belongs to the class of drug called antihistamines. | Cetirizine does not prevent from hives but it treats serious allergic reaction. |
