What is Aquatab C?
Carbetapentane is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.
Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen mucus congestion in your chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through your mouth.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine is used to treat stuffy nose, cough, and chest congestion caused by the common cold or flu.
This medication will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.
Carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Aquatab C?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to carbetapentane, guaifenesin, or phenylephrine.
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.
Do not use a cough or cold medicine 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.
Before you take carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine, tell your doctor if you have asthma or other breathing disorder, heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, urination problems, or an overactive thyroid.
Also tell your doctor about all other medications you use.
This medication can cause side effects that may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of taking this medication. Call your doctor any time if your symptoms get worse or if you also have a fever, headache, or skin rash.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Aquatab C?
Do not use a cough or cold medicine 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 a cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to carbetapentane, guaifenesin, or phenylephrine.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before you take carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine, tell your doctor if you have:
- asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems
- heart disease or high blood pressure
- glaucoma
- diabetes
- liver or kidney disease
- an enlarged prostate or urination problems; or
- overactive thyroid
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
This medication can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medication.
Aquatab C Side Effects
What are the possible side effects of Aquatab C?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult 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:
- confusion, hallucinations
- tremors; or
- extreme weakness
Less serious side effects may include:
- drowsiness, dizziness
- headache
- feeling nervous
- sleep problems (insomnia); or
- nausea
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Aquatab C Interactions
What other drugs affect Aquatab C?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by carbetapentane, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
- blood pressure medications
- methyldopa (Aldomet)
- reserpine
- an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others; or
- a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with carbetapentane, guaifenesin, 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 Aquatab C?
This medication can cause side effects that may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, or allergy medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Guaifenesin and decongestants are contained in many combination medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains a guaifenesin or a decongestant.
Aquatab C Dosage
How should I take Aquatab C?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Cold medicine is usually taken for only a short time until your symptoms clear up.
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 medication with a full glass of water. Drink extra fluids to help loosen the congestion and lubricate your throat while you are taking this medication.
You may take this medication with or without food. Taking it with food or milk may decrease stomach upset.
Measure the 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.
Do not crush, chew or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking or opening the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of taking this medication. Call your doctor any time if your symptoms get worse or if you also have a fever, headache, or skin rash.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you if you have taken a cold medicine within the past few days.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a cold medicine within the past few days.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not allow liquid medicine to freeze.
What happens if I overdose on Aquatab C?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose can cause confusion, agitation, hallucinations, or seizure (convulsions).
What happens if I miss a dose of Aquatab C?
Since cold or allergy medicine is often taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, 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