Dexbrompheniramine, Phenylephrine, Dextromethorphan Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Precautions Before Starting  Dexbrompheniramine, Phenylephrine, Dextromethorphan

Tell your doctor if you have ever had allergic reactions to dexbrompheniramine, phenylephrine, or dextromethorphan, any of the active or inactive ingredients in this combination allergy and cold medicine, any other cold or cough medicine, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies. This can help avoid drug interactions between your medications.

Give your healthcare professional a complete medical history. The combination of dexbrompheniramine, phenylephrine, and dextromethorphan may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions such as breathing problems (emphysema, chronic bronchitis), glaucoma, enlarged prostate gland, urinary problems, chronic cough caused by lung conditions or smoking, productive cough (with phlegm or mucus), high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or a thyroid disorder.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

Precautions During Use of  Dexbrompheniramine, Phenylephrine, Dextromethorphan

The combination of dexbrompheniramine, phenylephrine, and dextromethorphan can temporarily treat symptoms caused by allergies and the common cold in children and adults. You should take the medicine until your symptoms clear.

This medication can make a child sleepy but can also paradoxically cause excitability in children. Be vigilant for any changes in your child’s behavior, and call their doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms.

Call your doctor if your symptoms get worse or if you develop new symptoms after taking this cold medicine for the past few days. Ask a doctor if your cough or nasal congestion lasts more than one week or keeps coming back. Also, seek professional medical care if you have cough and cold symptoms accompanied by a fever, severe headache, blurred vision, or skin rash. A persistent cough can be a sign of a serious illness. 

Stop taking dexbrompheniramine, phenylephrine, and dextromethorphan and call your doctor or seek emergency medical help if you develop severe dizziness, sleep problems such as excessive sleeplessness, feeling nervous, urination problems, or slow or difficult breathing.

Avoid drinking alcohol while on this medication, as this can result in excessive drowsiness.

This medication can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Be careful while driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery until you know how it affects you.

Tell all your healthcare providers you are on  dexbrompheniramine, phenylephrine, dextromethorphan before any surgery or medical tests, including dental procedures.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while on this cough and cold medicine.

Dexbrompheniramine, Phenylephrine, Dextromethorphan Drug Interactions

Certain other drugs can affect how dexbrompheniramine, phenylephrine, and dextromethorphan work. Possible interactions with other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse reactions. The following medications can have interactions with dexbrompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine combination:

• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, such as phenelzine, isocarboxazid, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others
• Sleeping pills, sedatives, tranquilizers

The above list may not describe all the potential interactions of dexbrompheniramine, phenylephrine, and dextromethorphan. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with over-the-counter medications and prescription medications.