Coricidin

Generic Name: acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine (a SEET a MIN oh fen and KLOR fen IR a meen)
Brand Name: Coricidin, Coricidin HBP Cold & Flu

What is Coricidin?

Coricidin contains a combination of acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Coricidin is used to treat headache, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and pain or fever caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.

Coricidin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Coricidin

Do not take more Coricidin than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death.

Ask a doctor before taking medicine that contains acetaminophen if you have ever had liver disease, or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day.

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Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Coricidin. It may increase your risk of liver damage due to the acetaminophen contained in this medicine.

Before taking Coricidin

You should not use Coricidin if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• severe constipation, blockage in your stomach or intestines;

• untreated or uncontrolled diseases--glaucoma, asthma, heart disease, overactive thyroid; or

• if you are unable to urinate.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking Coricidin if you have any medical condition, especially:

• kidney disease;

• cough with mucus, or cough caused by emphysema or chronic bronchitis;

• an enlarged prostate, problems with urination;

• a history of alcoholism; or

• if you take potassium (Cytra, Epiklor, K-Lyte, K-Phos, Kaon, Klor-Con, Polycitra, Urocit-K).

Ask a doctor before taking medicine that contains acetaminophen if you have ever had liver disease, or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day.

It is not known whether Coricidin will harm an unborn baby. Do not use cold or allergy medicine without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant.

This medicine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Antihistamines may slow breast milk production. Do not use Coricidin without a doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

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

How should I take Coricidin?

Use Coricidin exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take this medicine for longer than recommended. Cold or allergy medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.

Do not take more Coricidin than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death.

Stop taking Coricidin and call your doctor if you still have a fever after 3 days, or you still have pain after 10 days (or 5 days if treating a child). Also call your doctor if your symptoms get worse, or if you have any redness or swelling.

If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the doctor ahead of time if you have taken Coricidin within the past few days.

Store Coricidin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Coricidin is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

What should I avoid while taking Coricidin?

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen.

Coricidin may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Coricidin side effects

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

Stop using Coricidin and call your doctor at once if you have:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;

• confusion, severe dizziness or drowsiness;

• tremor, restless muscle movements;

• little or no urinating;

• flu symptoms, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or

• nausea, pain in your upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common Coricidin side effects may include:

• constipation;

• dry eyes, blurred vision, dry mouth or nose;

• mild dizziness or drowsiness, trouble concentrating;

• feeling restless or excited (especially in children); or

• mild skin rash.

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.

See also: Coricidin side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Coricidin?

Taking Coricidin with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can increase these effects. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use Coricidin if you are also using any of the following drugs:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol);

• leflunomide, teriflunomide;

• methotrexate;

• topiramate;

• warfarin, Coumadin;

• zonisamide;

• an antibiotic, antifungal medicine, sulfa drug, or tuberculosis medicine;

• birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;

• bladder or urinary medicines such as darifenacin, fesoterodine, oxybutynin, tolterodine, solifenacin;

• bronchodilators such as ipratropium or tiotropium;

• cholesterol-lowering medications--Crestor, Lipitor, Pravachol, Simcor, Vytorin, Zocor, and others;

• gout or arthritis medications (including gold injections);

• heart or blood pressure medication;

• HIV or AIDS medications;

• medication for Parkinson's disease;

• medication to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcer, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome;

• medicines to treat mental illness;

• an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug)--ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, others;

• seizure medication--carbamazepine, phenytoin, and others; or

• steroids (prednisone and others).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with Coricidin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about Coricidin.