Chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan are the drugs used in many over-the-counter cough syrups.

What is chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan?

Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine. Blocking the effects of naturally happening chemical histamine in the body is the job of chlorpheniramine. Along with sneezing, watery eyes and nose, and itchiness, it prevents other symptoms of hay fever and allergies as well.

Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. What it actually suppresses is an area in the brain that causes coughing.

Precautions:

• If you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelizine (Nardil) in the last 14 days, DO NOT take chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan. • If you are planning to take these two drugs, tell your doctor if you have:

ַ Diabetes

ַ Kidney disease

ַ Thyroid disease

ַ Liver disease

ַ Glaucoma

ַ Hear disease

ַ High blood pressure

ַ Difficulty urinating

ַ Have an enlarge prostate

ַ Emphysema or chronic bronchitis

You doctor will either not allow you to take chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan or will allow it but with a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you have any of the conditions listed above.

• It is not yet known whether the two drugs will harm an unborn baby. Hence you should not take these two drugs if you are pregnant.

• Do not take this medication if you are breast-feeding a baby as the two drugs get passed into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.

• For people over 60 years of age, doctors suggest a lower dose as they are more likely to experience side effects.