Are you tired of getting colds, stuffy noses, and runny noses? Or do you have an allergy that makes you sneeze, have red eyes, and runny noses when you breathe in dust? Today we are going to talk about a medicine that a doctor often recommends to you at times like these. It has two names: Dexbrompheniramine and Pseudoephedrine. Let's see what this medicine does and how to use it.
What is this medicine? Simply put...
This is actually a combination of two types of medicine. To be precise, there are two main types of medicine inside this pill.
1. An antihistamine: This is used to control the symptoms caused by allergies. For example, it stops things like red eyes, watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing.
2. A decongestant: This is used to relieve nasal congestion. When you have a cold, the blood vessels inside your nose swell, causing your nose to become congested. So this medicine will reduce that swelling and make it easier to breathe.
Simply put, this medicine is used to control the aforementioned annoying symptoms caused by colds, allergies, or flu . In Sri Lanka, this medicine can come under various brand names. For example, you can say names like `(Acticon Cold & Allergy)`, `(Conex)`, `(Durahist)`.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
This is very important. Before you take this medicine, you should give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Especially if you have any of the conditions below, be sure to tell them about it.
| Your medical condition | Why should we inform about it? |
|---|---|
| Diabetes | Some of the ingredients in this medicine can affect blood sugar levels. |
| Glaucoma | This medicine can increase eye pressure, which can worsen glaucoma. |
| Heart disease or high blood pressure | The decongestant ingredient in the medicine can increase blood pressure and heart rate. |
| Respiratory diseases (e.g. asthma, COPD) | In some cases, caution should be exercised as it can cause the secretions in the respiratory tract to thicken. |
| Thyroid problems (Thyroid disease) | For people with an overactive thyroid gland, this medication may affect things like heart rate. |
| Difficulty urinating | Urination may be more difficult, especially for men with an enlarged prostate gland. |
| Taking MAOI medications | If you have taken MAOI antidepressants such as `(Marplan)`, `(Nardil)`, `(Parnate)` within the past 14 days, taking this medication may cause high blood pressure. |
| If you are pregnant or expecting a baby | Avoid taking this medicine without medical advice. |
| If you are a breastfeeding mother (Breastfeeding) | This medicine can pass into breast milk and affect the baby. |
How should I use this medicine?
The method of using this medicine is very simple.
- Swallow this pill with a glass of water.
- You can take this before or after meals, but if you experience stomach upset, it's best to take it with food.
- The most important thing is, do not take more than the doctor prescribed or take it before the prescribed time.
- If given to children: This medicine is sometimes given to children over 6 years of age. But it should only be given on the advice of a doctor.
- People over 65: Older people may feel the effects of this medicine more strongly, so they are usually prescribed a lower dose.
What to do if you take too much medicine? (Overdosage)
This is something to be very careful about. If you think you have taken too much medicine, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
Important: This medicine is for you only. Do not give it to anyone else, even if your symptoms are the same as yours.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
Some medications, foods, and supplements may interact with this medicine and cause adverse effects.
Warning: Never take this medicine with the following medications!
* MAOI-type medications for depression (e.g. `Marplan`, `Nardil`, `Parnate`)
* Ergot alkaloids (e.g. ergotamine) used for migraines
In addition, this medicine may interact with the following, so tell your doctor if you are using these.
- Alcohol
- Medications that cause drowsiness (e.g. diazepam, lorazepam)
- Other medications for depression (e.g. amitriptyline)
- Other antihistamines for allergies, coughs, and colds
- Painkillers (especially opioids)
- Muscle relaxant
- Some medications for epilepsy (e.g. phenobarbital)
- Some medications for Parkinson's disease
- Some herbal products, for example St. John's wort
This list may not be everything, so it's safest to tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including vitamins and herbal remedies.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
- If your symptoms do not improve after 7 days, or if they worsen, be sure to talk to your doctor again.
- This medicine may make you feel drowsy, less alert, or dizzy. Therefore , do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.
- To reduce dizziness, do not get up suddenly from sitting or lying down. Drinking alcohol can make this condition worse.
- Your mouth may be dry. Chewing sugarless gum, sucking on unsweetened candy, and drinking more water can help. If this persists, tell your doctor.
Possible side effects of this medicine
Like any medicine, this one can cause side effects in some people. Some of them are serious, some of them are common.
| Classification of side effects | |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Changes in heart rate | Feeling like your heart is beating fast, irregular heartbeat. |
| Increased blood pressure | Severe headache, dizziness. |
| Eye problems | Sudden eye pain, blurred vision, seeing rings around lights. |
| Difficulty urinating | No or scanty urination. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Mental and physical effects | Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, restlessness, constipation. |
If you notice anything unusual that is not on this list, talk to your doctor about it too.
How to keep medicine safe?
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Store at room temperature (between 20-25 degrees Celsius).
- Do not use expired medications. Throw them away.
- When disposing of expired medication, remove the tablets from their packaging, crush them, mix them with something like used tea leaves or coffee grounds, and place them in a tightly sealed bag and throw them in the trash. Otherwise, do not throw the tablets away directly.
Take-Home Message
- This medicine is mainly used for symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny nose caused by colds and allergies.
- If you have other medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or glaucoma, be sure to tell your doctor before taking this medication.
- This medication may cause drowsiness, so be very careful when driving or doing other activities that require attention.
- Avoid drinking alcohol completely while taking this medication. It can worsen the side effects.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a serious side effect such as chest pain, fast heartbeat, severe headache, or changes in vision.
- Always take only the dose prescribed by your doctor, exactly as prescribed.
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