What is the most important information I should know about Actifed Cold & Allergy?

There are many brands and forms of this medication available and not all brands are listed on this leaflet.
Do not use chlorpheniramine and phenylephrine 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. Dangerous side effects may occur if you take chlorpheniramine and phenylephrine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to chlorpheniramine or phenylephrine, or if you have severe high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, narrow-angle glaucoma, a stomach ulcer, or if you are unable to urinate.
Do not use this medication during an asthma attack.
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 and phenylephrine.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 2 years old. 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.
Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse after taking this medicine for 7 days.

Actifed Cold & Allergy Interactions

What other drugs affect Actifed Cold & Allergy?

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

• mecamylamine (Inversine)
• methyldopa (Aldomet)
• reserpine
• a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others
• a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); or
• an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip), doxepin (Sinequan), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others

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

What should I avoid while taking Actifed Cold & Allergy?

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 and phenylephrine.
Avoid using other medicines that may cause restlessness (such as caffeine, stimulants, diet pills, and decongestants contained in over-the-counter cold medicines). They can add to the stimulant effects of phenylephrine.

Actifed Cold & Allergy Dosage

How should I take Actifed Cold & Allergy?

Use this medication as directed on the label, or as your doctor has prescribed. Do not use the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 2 years old. 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.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
The chewable tablet must be chewed before swallowing.
Measure the liquid form of this 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 where you can get one.
Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse after taking this medicine for 7 days.
Store chlorpheniramine and phenylephrine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on Actifed Cold & Allergy?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, problems with balance or coordination, headache, urination problems, dizziness, feeling excited or irritable, hallucinations (seeing things), metallic taste in your mouth, tremors, fever, flushed face, and seizure (convulsions).

What happens if I miss a dose of Actifed Cold & Allergy?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Edited from everydayhealth.com