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You are here : 3-RX.com > Drugs & Medications > Detailed Drug Information (USP DI) > Antihistamines, Decongestants, and Analgesics

Antihistamines, Decongestants, and Analgesics (Systemic)

Description and Brand Names | Before Using | Proper Use | Precautions | Side Effects

Description

Antihistamine, decongestant, and analgesic combinations are taken by mouth to relieve the sneezing, runny nose, sinus and nasal congestion (stuffy nose), fever, headache, and aches and pain of colds, influenza, and hay fever. These combinations do not contain any ingredient to relieve coughs.

Antihistamines are used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of hay fever and other types of allergy. They may also help relieve some symptoms of the common cold, such as sneezing and runny nose. They work by preventing the effects of a substance called histamine, which is produced by the body. Antihistamines contained in these combinations are:

brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, dexbrompheniramine, diphenhydramine, pheniramine, phenyltoloxamine, pyrilamine, and triprolidine.

Decongestants, such as phenylephrine, and pseudoephedrine, produce a narrowing of blood vessels. This leads to clearing of nasal congestion, but it may also cause an increase in blood pressure in patients who have high blood pressure.

Analgesics, such as acetaminophen and salicylates (e.g., aspirin, sodium salicylate), are used in these combination medicines to help relieve fever, headache, aches, and pain.

Some of these medicines are available without a prescription. However, your doctor may have special instructions on the proper dose of these medicines for your medical condition. These medicines are available in the following dosage forms:

Oral

Brompheniramine, Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen
- Oral suspension (U.S.)
- Tablets (U.S.)
Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, and Acetaminophen
- Capsules (Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Extended-release tablets (U.S.)
Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen
- Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
- For oral solution (U.S.)
- Oral solution (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Chewable tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Chlorpheniramine, Pyrilamine, Phenylephrine, and Acetaminophen
- Tablets (U.S.)
Dexbrompheniramine, Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen
- Extended-release tablets (U.S.)
Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen
- For oral solution (U.S.)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Pheniramine, Phenylephrine, and Acetaminophen
- For oral solution (Canada)
Pheniramine, Phenylephrine, Sodium Salicylate, and Caffeine
- Oral solution (U.S.)
Pyrilamine, Phenylephrine, Aspirin, and Caffeine
- Tablets (Canada)
Triprolidine, Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

Actifed Cold & Sinus Caplets ³
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Liqui-Gels ³
Benadryl Allergy/Sinus Headache Caplets ⁶
Children's Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom ³
Comtrex Allergy-Sinus ³
Comtrex Allergy-Sinus Caplets ³
Contac Allergy/Sinus Night Caplets ⁶
Dimetapp Cold & Fever Suspension ¹
Dristan Cold Multi-Symptom Formula ²
Drixoral Allergy-Sinus ⁵
Drixoral Cold and Flu ⁵
Kolephrin Caplets ³
ND-Gesic ⁴
Scot-Tussin Original 5-Action Cold Formula ⁸
Sinarest ³
Sine-Off Sinus Medicine Caplets ³
Singlet for Adults ³
TheraFlu/Flu and Cold Medicine ³
TheraFlu/Flu and Cold Medicine for Sore Throat ³
Tylenol Allergy Sinus Medication Maximum Strength Caplets ³
Tylenol Allergy Sinus Medication Maximum Strength Gelcaps ³
Tylenol Allergy Sinus Medication Maximum Strength Geltabs ³
Tylenol Allergy Sinus Night Time Medicine Maximum Strength Caplets ⁶
Tylenol Flu NightTime Hot Medication Maximum Strength ⁶
Tylenol Flu NightTime Medication Maximum Strength Gelcaps ⁶

In Canada -

Actifed Plus Extra Strength Caplets ¹⁰
Dristan ²
Dristan Extra Strength Caplets ²
Neo Citran Nutrasweet ⁷
Neo Citran Extra Strength Colds and Flu ⁷
Sinutab Extra Strength Caplets ³
Sinutab Regular Caplets ³
Tylenol Allergy Sinus Medication Extra Strength Caplets ³
Tylenol Cold Medication Children's ³
Tylenol Flu NightTimeMedication Extra Strength Gelcaps ⁶

Note:

In November 2000, the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) issued a public health warning regarding phenylpropanolamine (PPA) due to the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. The FDA, supported by results of a research program, requested that manufacturers voluntarily discontinue marketing products that contain PPA and that consumers work with their healthcare providers to select alternative products.

Note:

For quick reference, the following antihistamines, decongestants, and analgesics are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.

This information applies to the following medicines:
1.	Brompheniramine, Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen (brome-fen-IR-a-meen soo-doe-e-FED-rin and a-set-a-MIN-oh-fen)†
2.	Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, and Acetaminophen (klor-fen-EER-a-meenfen-il-EF-rin and a-set-a-MIN-oh-fen)
3.	Chlorpheniramine,Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen (klor-fen-EER-a-meen soo-doe-e-FED-rin and a-set-a-MIN-oh-fen)
4.	Chlorpheniramine, Pyrilamine, Phenylephrine, andAcetaminophen (klor-fen-EER-a-meen peer-ILL-a-meen fen-il-EF-rin and a-set-a-MIN-oh-fen)†
5.	Dexbrompheniramine , Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen (dex-brome-fen-EER-a-meen soo-doe-e-FED-rin and a-set-a-MIN-oh-fen)†
6.	Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen (dye-fen-HYE-dra-meensoo-doe-e-FED-rin and a-set-a-MIN-oh-fen)†
7.	Pheniramine, Phenylephrine, and Acetaminophen (fen-EER-a-meen fen-il-EF-rin and a-set-a-MIN-oh-fen)*
8.	Pheniramine, Phenylephrine, Sodium Salicylate, and Caffeine (fen-EER-a-meen fen-il-EF-rin SOE-dee-um sa-LI-si-lateand kaf-EEN)†
9.	Pyrilamine, Phenylephrine, Aspirin, and Caffeine (peer-ILL-a-meenfen-il-EF-rin AS-pir-in and kaf-EEN)*
10.	Triprolidine,Pseudoephedrine, and Acetaminophen (trye-PROE-li-deen soo-doe-e-FED-rin and a-set-a-MIN-oh-fen)
* Not commercially available in the U.S.
† Not commercially available in Canada

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		Antihistamines, Decongestants, and Analgesics: Before Using

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Antihistamines, Decongestants, and Analgesics (Systemic)

Category

Description

Brand Names