What is Dimetapp Cold & Cough?
Brompheniramine reduces the effects caused by the natural chemical histamine. Histamine may cause symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and watery eyes. Dextromethorphan works as a cough suppressant. It works by affecting the brain signals that trigger the cough reflex. Phenylephrine shrinks the blood vessels of the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause congestion in the nasal passages. Brompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine are used to treat symptoms such as runny or stuffy nasal passages, sneezing and itching, watery eyes, coughs, and sinus congestion that may be caused by allergies or the common flu. Dimetapp Cold & Cough does not treat a chronic cough caused by asthma or emphysema, nor can it be used to treat a smoker's cough. Dimetapp Cough and Cold may be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Dimetapp Cold & Cough
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
If you experience a serious adverse reaction, such as:
- Heart rate can be fast, slow, or uneven.
- Severe headache; mood changes; and hallucinations.
- Feeling like you could pass out or dizziness;
- Tremor, seizure (convulsions);
- Easy bruising, bleeding, or unusual weakness
- Fever;
- Urinating less or not at all
- Feeling short of breath
- High blood pressure can be dangerous (headache, blurred vision or buzzing in the ears, anxiety, confusion, and chest pain).
Some of the less serious side effects include:
- Mild headache
- Mild dizziness and drowsiness;
- Dry mouth, nose, or throat
- Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach;
- Feeling nervous, restless, or irritable
- Blurred vision
- Sleep problems (insomnia).
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Similar/related drugs
Bromfed DM, brompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine; Vicks Dayquil Cold and Fever Relief; Mucinex D, Promethazine VC, and Codeine
Warnings
This medication should not be given to children younger than four years of age. Ask a doctor first before giving cough and cold medications to children. Children as young as 4 years old can die from the misuse of cough medicines. This medication should not be used if your constipation is severe, you have a blockage of the stomach or intestines, or you can't urinate. This medication should not be used if you are suffering from uncontrolled or untreated diseases, such as glaucoma or COPD. Other conditions to avoid include high blood pressure, heart disease, or coronary arterial disease. If you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as Furazolidone (Furoxone), Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Rasgiline, Emsam, Zelapar, or Tranylcypromine, do not take this medication. It is possible that a dangerous drug interaction will occur. This could lead to serious side effects.
Before you take this drug
If you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as Furazolidone (Furoxone), Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Rasgiline, Emsam, Zelapar, or Tranylcypromine, do not take this medication. It is possible that a dangerous drug interaction will occur. This could lead to serious side effects. Dimetapp Cold and Cough should not be used if you suffer from severe constipation or have a blockage of your stomach or intestines. This medication should not be used if you suffer from uncontrolled or untreated diseases, such as uncontrolled glaucoma or COPD.
If you suffer from:
- A colostomy or ileostomy;
- Diabetes;
- Liver or kidney disease
- Epilepsy
- If you have a cough that is mucus-related or if it is caused by chronic lung disease, then this may be the cause.
- Urination or prostate problems;
- Low blood pressure
- Pheochromocytoma
- If you are taking potassium (cytra epiklor k-lyte k-phos kaon klor con polycitra urocit k),
FDA pregnancy class C There is no information on whether or not this medication can harm an unborn child. If you are pregnant, do not take Dimetapp Cold & Cough unless a doctor has prescribed it. This medicine can pass into breastmilk and harm a nursing infant. Antihistamines and decongestants can also reduce breast milk production. Do not use this medication without consulting a doctor if you're breastfeeding a child.
How to take Dimetapp Cold & Cough?
Do not exceed the recommended dosage or duration. Use only the recommended dose. Do not exceed it. This medication should only be taken for a few days until the symptoms have cleared up. This medication should not be given to children younger than four years of age. Ask a doctor first before giving cough or cold medication to your child. Children as young as 4 years old can die from the misuse of cough and cold medicines. Take no more than seven days at a time. Speak to your doctor if symptoms don't improve after seven days or you experience a fever and headache with skin or a rash. Do not use a regular spoon to measure liquid medicines. Use a dose-measuring cup or spoon. Ask your pharmacist if you don't have a dose-measuring device. Tell your doctor or surgeon if you've taken this medication in the last few days if you are going to need surgery. Store away from moisture or heat at room temperature. Store at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss the dose?
You may not have a regular dosing regimen because this medication is only taken as needed. Take the missed dose immediately if you take the medication regularly. If your next scheduled dosage is near, skip the missed dose. You should not take more medicine to compensate for a missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention. Some of the symptoms listed in this guide may be severe overdose symptoms.
What should be avoided?
Dimetapp Cold & Cough can cause blurred vision, which may affect your ability to think or react. You should be careful when driving or doing anything else that requires you to be alert and to see clearly. Certain side effects can be exacerbated by alcohol consumption. Before using any other cough, allergy, or cold medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Many combination medications contain antihistamines and cough suppressants. Combining certain products can lead to an overdose of certain drugs. You can check the label of a medication to see if it contains antihistamines, decongestants, or cough suppressants. This medication should not be taken if you are also taking diet pills, caffeine tablets, or any other stimulants. Combining a stimulant with a nasal decongestant may increase the risk of side effects. Avoid overheating or dehydration during exercise and hot weather. This medication may decrease sweating, and you could be more susceptible to heat stroke.
Interaction with other drug
Before using this medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are regularly taking other medications that cause you to sleep (such as narcotics, sleeping pills, or muscle relaxers) or if you have been prescribed medicine for seizures, anxiety, or depression. These medicines can increase the sleepiness that is caused by dextromethorphan or brompheniramine.
If you also use any of these drugs, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it's safe to take the medication.
- Atropine
- Benztropine (cogentin);
- Topiramate (topamax);
- Zonisamide (zonegran);
- Antidepressants such as citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, paxil, pexeva, sertraline, venlafaxine, and others
- Anti-nausea medication such as belladonna, dimenhydrinate, droperidol, or inapsine
- Urogesic blue, vesicare, solifenacin, or darifenacin are all bladder or urinary medications.
- Bronchodilators like tiotropium or atornt (ipratropium) are bronchodilators.
- Irritable bowel medication such as dicyclomine, hyoscyamine, or propantheline
- Glycopyrrolate, robinul, or mepenzolate.
Dimetapp Cold & Cough may interact with other drugs. Inform your doctor of all the medications you take. Included are prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Never start a new medicine without consulting your doctor.
