What you need to know about cold and cough medicines (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylephrine)

When you have a cold, aches, and a cough and a stuffy nose, many of us are used to going to the pharmacy and asking for a single medicine, a syrup, or a pill that will cure all these symptoms, right? Although it is easy to use such "all-in-one" medicines, we need to be very careful when using them. Because these contain several types of medicines that work differently from each other. Let's talk about this today.

What are the ingredients in this medicine?

Simply put, the medicine you take in this way, whether in a pill or a capsule, may contain a combination of four main types of drugs. Each of them does a different job.

• Acetaminophen: This is what we often know as Paracetamol. It is mainly used to reduce fever and relieve pain such as body aches and headaches.
• Dextromethorphan: This is used to control your cough. It is often used, especially for dry coughs. It is a cough suppressant.
• Guaifenesin: This medicine works by loosening and diluting the mucus in your chest, making it easier to cough up. We call this an expectorant. It can help relieve chest congestion.
• Phenylephrine: This works by constricting the blood vessels in the nose to reduce nasal congestion and runny nose.

Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine

Before using any of these types of combination medications, you should definitely talk to your doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions or conditions:

• If you have diabetes .
• If you have high blood pressure or heart disease .
• If you have liver disease or if you are a frequent drinker .
• If you have any thyroid disease.
• If you have trouble passing urine (especially in men, conditions such as enlarged prostate).
• You are taking an MAOI for a mental illness (especially depression).If you have used a medication from the said class of drugs (e.g. Carbex, Marplan, Nardil) within the past two weeks .
• If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
• If you are a breastfeeding mother .
• If you have previously had an allergy to these medications or any other medicine or food.

How exactly do I use this medicine?

You have to be very careful when using this type of medicine.

• Read the label carefully: Follow the instructions on the medicine bottle or packet exactly. Do not take more than the prescribed dose.
• Use the correct measure: Only use the measuring cup, spoon, or dropper that comes with the medicine. Do not measure medicine with teaspoons or tablespoons that you have in your kitchen. They are not accurate.
• Take it at the right time: Take the medicine at the right time, every hour, as directed by your doctor or on the label.
• When given to children: Doctors sometimes recommend these medications for children over 6 years of age. However, never give these medications to children without first consulting a doctor. It is safest to seek advice from a pediatrician.

What to do if you take too much medicine? (Overdose)

This can be a very dangerous situation, especially since these medicines contain Acetaminophen (paracetamol). If you have any suspicion that you have taken too much of this medicine, do not wait until symptoms appear, but go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.

What things should you pay attention to when taking medication?

• Be careful with acetaminophen (paracetamol): When taking this medicine, do not take any other medicine containing paracetamol (e.g. Panadol, Calpol) at the same time. Doing so can increase the dose of paracetamol in the body and cause serious liver damage. Always read the label of the medicine you are taking. If in doubt, ask your doctor.
• Watch out for symptoms:
• If your symptoms do not improve after 7 days, or if they worsen, see a doctor.
• If your sore throat lasts more than 2 days, is accompanied by fever, rash, headache, nausea, or vomiting, see a doctor immediately.

Side effects that may occur due to this medicine

Like any medication, this medication can cause side effects in some people. Some of them can be serious, so it's important to be aware of them.

This list does not include all possible side effects. If you notice anything unusual, talk to your doctor.

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