There's nothing worse than a cough and a stuffy nose when you have a cold. You can't breathe properly, you can't sleep at night, and you can't do anything. So when you go to see a doctor at a time like this, he or she may prescribe a syrup to control these symptoms. Today, we're talking about one such commonly used combination drug. It has three ingredients combined.
What kind of medicine is this?
Simply put, this is a combination of three medications, each of which does a different job.
1. Dextromethorphan: This is used to control cough . It temporarily blocks the cough signal that goes to the brain.
2. Phenylephrine: This is a decongestant . It temporarily constricts the blood vessels inside the nose, reducing nasal congestion and runny nose.
3. Pyrilamine: This is an antihistamine that is used to treat allergies . It controls allergy symptoms such as itching, runny nose, and sneezing.
The most important thing is that this medicine only controls the symptoms of a cold or allergy. It cannot cure an infection in your body.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Okay, now this is the most important part. Before your doctor prescribes this medicine, he or she will need to know your complete medical history. Especially if you have any of the following medical conditions, you should definitely tell your doctor .
- Asthma
- Blood vessel diseases
- Diabetes
- Eczema or other skin allergies
- Glaucoma, a condition of increased pressure in the eyes
- High blood pressure or heart disease
- Kidney or liver disease
- Prostate problems or difficulty urinating
- Stomach ulcers or other gastrointestinal diseases
- Thyroid disease
- If you have an allergy to any of the ingredients in this medicine or to any other medicine, food, or preservative.
- If you are pregnant, or are expecting a baby soon
- If you are a breastfeeding mother
How should I use the medicine?
Be aware of these points when using this medicine.
- This is an oral syrup.
- Take the dose prescribed by your doctor, at the right time. Do not take it too often or in excess.
- Do not use household teaspoons or measuring spoons to measure medicine. They are not accurate. Use only a cup or special spoon that comes with the medicine or can be obtained from a pharmacy and can measure accurately in milliliters (ml).
- If given to children: Although this medicine is sometimes given to children over 2 years of age, it should only be done under the advice of a pediatrician. Do not give it to children on your own.
- 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?
If you think you have taken more than the prescribed dose of this medicine, do not delay. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
When taking this medicine, there may be adverse reactions (interactions) with other things you are using. So be aware of this as well.
| Drug Interactions | |
|---|---|
| Don't take medicine with these. | |
| Some older medications for depression are called MAOIs (e.g., Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, Parnate). Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medications. | |
| If you take these with you, ask your doctor. | |
| Alcohol or any product containing alcohol | The side effects of the medication (drowsiness) can be very severe. |
| Medications for depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses | Drowsiness and other side effects may increase. |
| Medications for high blood pressure | May interfere with the effectiveness of some medications. |
| Sleeping pills | Excessive drowsiness may occur. |
| Other cough and cold medicines | Too much of the same type of medication can be absorbed into the body. |
This list may not be complete, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you take (even vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements).
Possible side effects of taking the medicine
Like any medicine, this one can cause side effects in some people. Some of them are serious, some of them are common.
| If you experience these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately. | |
|---|---|
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue. |
| Difficulty breathing | Shortness of breath, rapid breathing. |
| Vision changes | Blurred vision. |
| Changes in heart rate | Feeling like your heart is beating fast or irregularly. |
| Blood pressure changes | Excessive rise or fall in blood pressure. |
| Mental and neurological disorders | Restlessness, agitation, tremors, seizures. |
| Urination problems | Difficulty urinating or a change in the amount of urine you produce. |
| Unusual fatigue | Feeling extremely tired or weak. |
| If these symptoms persist or become bothersome, tell your doctor. | |
| Headache | Difficulty falling asleep |
| Appetite | Skin sensitivity to sunlight |
| Nausea, vomiting | Stomach ache |
How to store the medicine?
- Keep it safe and out of the reach of children. This is very important.
- Store at room temperature (between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius).
- Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture.
- Keep the bottle cap tightly closed.
- Throw away expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- This medicine is a combination of medications that is given to control symptoms of colds and allergies, such as cough and nasal congestion. It does not cure infections.
- Before taking the medicine, tell your doctor about all medical conditions you have and all other medications you are taking.
- Use only a special spoon or cup with the correct measurement to measure the medicine. Do not use kitchen spoons at home.
- This medication may make you drowsy, so avoid driving and doing tasks that require alertness. Avoid drinking alcohol completely.
- If you suspect you have taken too much medicine, immediately contact the National Poisons Information Centre or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU).
- If you experience any serious side effects, such as difficulty breathing, severe swelling, or bruising, inform your doctor immediately.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 Alosetron (Alosetron / Lotronex) tablets are the last resort for which disease?
This is not an ordinary medicine! This is a very powerful (5-HT3 receptor antagonist) last resort (Restricted/REMS) medicine that is specifically given to 'Women only' with severe 'IBS-D' (Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea), and that no other medicine can relieve, and that allows you to control severe diarrhea and stomach pain that has disrupted your life!
💬 How does the pill (Alosetron) given to these women stop severe stomach cramps/diarrhea when all other medications fail?
Many of the nerves in women's intestines are touched/hypersensitive to a chemical called 'Serotonin (5-HT3)'! As soon as this medicine enters the stomach, it blocks 100% of the serotonin receptors (5-HT3) in those intestines and clogs them up. Since there is no way for the message to go, the hypersensitivity of the nerves (Visceral hypersensitivity) disappears immediately and the urgency to defecate and the stomach pain disappear.
💬 Why have several countries around the world banned this pill? What are the fatal risks (Black Box Warnings)?
The dangers are extremely serious! The biggest danger is that this stops the blood flow to the stomach and the intestines rot 100% (Ischemic Colitis)! When the patient suddenly bleeds from the stomach, they have to be hospitalized, and some have even died. Also, this can cause constipation to reach the last severe stage (Severe Complicated Constipation), and the intestines can become blocked and burst, so this should only be taken under the special supervision of a doctor.
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