Chlorpheniramine (patient information)

Why this medication is prescribed

Chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine, relieves red, itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; and runny nose caused by allergies, hay fever, and the common cold. It may also relieve the itching of insect bites, bee stings, poison ivy, and poison oak.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How this medication should be used

Chlorpheniramine comes as a extended-release (long-acting) tablet and capsule, a regular tablet and capsule, chewable tablet, liquid, and syrup to take by mouth. It usually is taken every 4-6 hours or twice a day, in the morning and evening, as needed. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take chlorpheniramine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Do not break, crush, or chew extended-release tablets and do not open extended-release capsules; swallow them whole.

Do not give extended-release tablets or capsules to a child less than 12 years of age and do not give regular or chewable tablets or liquid to a child less than 6 years of age unless directed to do so by a doctor.

Special precautions

Before taking chlorpheniramine:

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to chlorpheniramine or any other drugs.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other medications for colds, hay fever, or allergies; medications for depression or seizures; muscle relaxants; narcotics (pain medications); sedatives; sleeping pills; tranquilizers; and vitamins. Do not take chlorpheniramine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor [phenelzine (Nardil) or tranylcypromine (Parnate)] in the last 2 weeks.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma, glaucoma, ulcers, diabetes, difficulty urinating (due to an enlarged prostate gland), heart disease, high blood pressure, seizures, or an overactive thyroid gland.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking chlorpheniramine, call your doctor.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking chlorpheniramine.
you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

What to do if you forget a dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Side effects

Minor side effects

Chlorpheniramine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

dry mouth, nose, and throat
upset stomach
headache
chest congestion
diarrhea

Severe side effects

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

vision problems
difficulty urinating
difficulty breathing
muscle weakness
prolonged drowsiness
excitement (especially in children)
dizziness
skin rash

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions needed for this medication

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Other information

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Brand names

Aller-Chlor®
Aller-Chlor® Syrup
Chlo-Amine®
Chlor-Trimeton® 12 Hour Allergy
Chlor-Trimeton® 4 Hour Allergy
Chlor-Trimeton® 8 Hour Allergy
Chlor-Trimeton® Allergy Syrup
Efidac 24® Chlorpheniramine
Polaramine®
Polaramine® Repetabs®
Polaramine® Syrup
Teldrin® Allergy

Brand names of combination products

Ah-Chew® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Alka-Seltzer Plus® Cold Medicine Liqui-Gels® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Allerest® Maximum Strength containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Atrohist® Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Brexin® L.A. containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Chlordrine® S.R. containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Chlor-Phed® Timecelles® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Chlor-Trimeton® 12 Hour Allergy Decongestant containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate
Chlor-Trimeton® 4 Hour Allergy Decongestant containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate
Comhist® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, and Phenyltoloxamine Citrate
Comtrex® Allergy-Sinus Maximum Strength Tablets containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Coricidin® HBP® Cold & Flu containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Acetaminophen
D.A. Chewable® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
D.A. II® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Dallergy® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Dallergy® Caplets® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Dallergy® Syrup containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Deconamine® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Deconamine® SR containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Deconamine® Syrup containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Dristan® Cold containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Dura-Vent/®DA containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
EX-Histine® Syrup containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Extendryl® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Extendryl® Jr. containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Extendryl® Sr. containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Extendryl® Syrup containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Flu-Relief® Caplets® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Histalet® Syrup containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Kolephrin® Caplets® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Kronofed-A® Kronocaps® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Kronofed-A-Jr.® Kronocaps® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Mescolor® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
ND Clear® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
ND-Gesic® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, and Pyrilamine Maleate
Novahistine® Elixir containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Omnihist® LA containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Polaramine® Expectorant containing Dexchlorpheniramine Maleate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate
Protid® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Rescon® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Rescon® JR containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Rescon®-ED containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Rhinatate® containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
R-Tannate® containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
R-Tannate® Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
Ryna® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Rynatan® containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
Rynatan® Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
Rynatan®-S Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
Rynatuss® containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Carbetapentane Tannate, Ephedrine Tannate, and Phenylephrine Tannate
Rynatuss® Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Carbetapentane Tannate, Ephedrine Tannate, and Phenylephrine Tannate
Ry-Tuss® containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Carbetapentane Tannate, Ephedrine Tannate, and Phenylephrine Tannate
Ry-Tuss® Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Carbetapentane Tannate, Ephedrine Tannate, and Phenylephrine Tannate
Sinarest® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudophedrine Hydrochloride
Sinarest® Extra Strength Caplets® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Sine-Off® Sinus Medicine Caplets® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Singlet® Caplets® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Sinutab® Sinus Allergy Maximum Strength Caplets® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Sinutab® Sinus Allergy Maximum Strength Tablets containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Sudafed® Cold & Allergy containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Tanafed® containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate and Pseudoephedrine Tannate
Tanoral® Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
Tanoral®-S Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
TheraFlu® Flu and Cold Medicine containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
TheraFlu® Flu and Cold Medicine for Sore Throat Maximum Strength containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Triaminic® Cold & Allergy Softchews® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Triotann® containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
Triotann® Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
Triotann®-S Pediatric containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
Triple Tannate® Pediatric Suspension containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Phenylephrine Tannate, and Pyrilamine Tannate
Tussi-12® containing Chlorpheniramine Tannate, Carbetapentane Tannate, and Phenylephrine Tannate
Tylenol® Allergy Sinus Maximum Strength Caplets® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Tylenol® Allergy Sinus Maximum Strength Gelcaps® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Tylenol® Allergy Sinus Maximum Strength Geltabs® containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Tylenol® Cold Multi-Symptom Children's containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Acetaminophen, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
Vanex® Forte-R containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine Nitrate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride

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