acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine

What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine?

Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can cause damage to your liver.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP") and chlorpheniramine are contained in many combination medicines. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen, APAP, or chlorpheniramine.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while you are taking acetaminophen.

Tell your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to take medication that contains acetaminophen.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.

What is acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine?

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer.

Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

The combination of acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine is used to treat runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and pain or fever caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.

Acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine, or any antihistamine.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist about using acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine if you have:

• liver disease;
• glaucoma;
• kidney disease;
• an enlarged prostate; or
• problems with urination.

Tell your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to take medication that contains acetaminophen.

It is not known whether acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine will harm an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine?

Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.

An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver. Adults should not take more than 1 gram (1000 mg) of acetaminophen per dose or 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Ask a doctor before taking acetaminophen if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day, and never take more than 2 grams (2000 mg) of acetaminophen per day.

One Coricidin tablet contains 325 mg of acetaminophen. Know the amount of acetaminophen in the specific product you are taking.

Take with food or milk if this medicine upsets your stomach.

This medication can cause unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine?

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP") and chlorpheniramine are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen, APAP, or chlorpheniramine.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage.

What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• black, bloody, or tarry stools;
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
• confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
• nausea, pain in your upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• dryness of the eyes, nose, and mouth;
• blurred vision;
• difficulty urinating;
• dizziness, drowsiness;
• problems with memory or concentration;
• ringing in your ears;
• feeling restless or excited (especially in children); or
• mild nausea, stomach pain, constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine?

Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by chlorpheniramine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• isoniazid;
• zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT);
• an antidepressant;
• a diuretic (water pill);
• probenecid (Benemid);
• medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome;
• bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol) or tolterodine (Detrol);
• aspirin or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others); or
• seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine.

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