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Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, and Pseudoephedrine |
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| Pronunciation |
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 (a
seet a MIN oh fen, deks troe meth
OR fan, & soo doe e FED rin) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Alka-Seltzer® Plus Cold and Flu
Liqui-Gels®[OTC]; Infants' Tylenol® Cold Plus Cough
Concentrated
Drops [OTC]; Sudafed® Severe Cold [OTC]; Thera-Flu® Non-Drowsy
Formula Maximum Strength
[OTC]; Tylenol® Cold Non-Drowsy [OTC]; Tylenol® Flu Non-Drowsy
Maximum Strength
[OTC] |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antihistamine; Antitussive |
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- Acetaminophen is used to decrease pain.
- Dextromethorphan is used to stop the cough.
- Pseudoephedrine is used to dry up nasal
stuffiness.
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| How does it work? |
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- Acetaminophen decreases the production of chemicals called
prostaglandins. This decreases pain.
- Dextromethorphan suppresses the cough center in the brain.
- Pseudoephedrine shrinks swollen nasal tissue and opens up passages.
Sinus drainage is increased by
this.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with or without food. Take with food if medicine causes an upset
stomach.
- Make sure you are drinking enough liquids unless told to drink less by
healthcare provider. Avoid products with
caffeine.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- This medicine may also be taken on an as needed basis depending on
relief of symptoms, duration of cold, or
allergy.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake.
Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, rapid heartbeats, and
anxiety.
- Pseudoephedrine can cause inability to sleep or nervousness.
- Not for coughs due to smoking, asthma, or chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease.
- Use caution if you have high blood pressure. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are a heavy drinker. This medicine
mixed with alcohol can cause liver damage.
- Do not use over-the-counter products that increase blood pressure.
These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like
products, and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Inability to sleep.
- Very nervous and excitable.
- Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may
help.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Watch for change in symptoms. Is condition better, worse, or about the
same?
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- If cough continues for more than 1 week or tends to return.
- Severe headache.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
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