What is AllerTan (Chlorpheniramine/Phenylephrine/Pyrilamine)?

Chlorpheniramine and pyrilamine are antihistamines that reduce the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).

The combination of chlorpheniramine, pyrilamine, and phenylephrine is used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sinus congestion, watery eyes, and other symptoms caused by allergies or the common cold or flu.

Chlorpheniramine, pyrilamine, and phenylephrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking AllerTan (Chlorpheniramine/Phenylephrine/Pyrilamine)?

Do not that this medication if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take chlorpheniramine, pyrilamine, and phenylephrine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to chlorpheniramine, hydrocodone, or phenylephrine, or to other antihistamines or decongestants.

Before taking chlorpheniramine, pyrilamine, and phenylephrine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• emphysema or chronic bronchitis
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• heart disease or high blood pressure
• diabetes
• a thyroid disorder
• glaucoma
• enlarged prostate; or
• urination problems

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

AllerTan Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of AllerTan (Chlorpheniramine/Phenylephrine/Pyrilamine)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness
• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats
• confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior
• feeling like you might pass out
• urinating less than usual or not at all
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms
• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure); or
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Less serious side effects may include:

• upset stomach, constipation
• dry mouth
• blurred vision
• dizziness, drowsiness
• problems with memory or concentration
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• restless or excitability (especially in children)

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

AllerTan Interactions

What other drugs affect AllerTan (Chlorpheniramine/Phenylephrine/Pyrilamine)?

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• blood pressure medication
• an antidepressant
• a diuretic (water pill)
• medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome
• bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol) or tolterodine (Detrol)
• aspirin or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan’s Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others); or
• a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carteolol (Cartrol), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), timolol (Blocadren), and others

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with chlorpheniramine, pyrilamine, and phenylephrine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking AllerTan (Chlorpheniramine/Phenylephrine/Pyrilamine)?

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of chlorpheniramine, pyrilamine, and phenylephrine.

Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor’s advice. Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.

Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by chlorpheniramine, pyrilamine, and phenylephrine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other cough and cold medications.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or sleep medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of one or more types of medicine. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains an antihistamine or decongestant.

AllerTan Dosage

How should I take AllerTan (Chlorpheniramine/Phenylephrine/Pyrilamine)?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking or crushing the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Shake the oral suspension liquid medicine well just before you measure a dose.

Store the medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on AllerTan (Chlorpheniramine/Phenylephrine/Pyrilamine)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include dry mouth, dilated pupils, nausea, vomiting, and warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin.

What happens if I miss a dose of AllerTan (Chlorpheniramine/Phenylephrine/Pyrilamine)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Edited from everydayhealth.com