Before Using

If you are taking this drug without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For cough/cold combinations, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

• Aspirin or other salicylates
• Diclofenac - Voltaren
• Diflunisal - Dolobid
• Fenoprofen - Nalfon
• Floctafenine
• Flurbiprofen, by mouth - Ansaid
• Ibuprofen - Motrin
• Indomethacin - Indocin
• Ketoprofen - Orudis
• Ketorolac - Toradol
• Meclofenamate - Meclomen
• Mefenamic acid - Ponstel
• Methyl salicylate - oil of wintergreen
• Naproxen - Naprosyn
• Oxyphenbutazone - Tandearil
• Phenylbutazone - Butazolidin
• Piroxicam - Feldene
• Sulindac - Clinoril
• Suprofen - Suprol
• Tiaprofenic acid - Surgam
• Tolmetin - Tolectin
• Zomepirac - Zomax

Diet Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet.

Pregnancy care

• Acetaminophen Studies on birth defects have not been done. However, acetaminophen has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems.
• Alcohol Some of these combination medication contain a large amount of alcohol. Too much use of alcohol during pregnancy may cause birth defects.
• Antihistamines Antihistamines have not been shown to cause problems.
• Caffeine Studies have not shown that caffeine causes birth defects. However, studies in pets have shown that caffeine causes birth defects when given in very large doses - amounts equal to the amount of caffeine contained in 12 to 24 cups of coffee a day.
• Codeine Although studies on birth defects with codeine have not been done, it has not been reported to cause birth defects. Codeine has not been shown to cause birth defects in animal studies, but it causing other unwanted effects. Always regular use of narcotics during pregnancy may cause the baby to become dependent on the drug. This may lead to withdrawal side effects after birth. In addition, narcotics may cause breathing problems in the newborn baby if taken by the mother just before delivery.
• Hydrocodone Although studies on birth defects with hydrocodone have not been done, it has not been reported to cause birth defects. However, hydrocodone has been shown to cause birth defects in pets when given in very large doses. Always regular use of narcotics during pregnancy may cause the baby to become dependent on the drug. This may lead to withdrawal side effects after birth. In addition, narcotics may cause breathing problems in the newborn baby if taken by the mother just before delivery.
• Iodides - calcium iodide and iodinated glycerol Not recommended during pregnancy. Iodides have causing enlargement of the thyroid gland in the fetus and resulted in breathing problems in newborn babies whose mothers took iodides in large doses for a long period of time.
• Phenylephrine Studies on birth defects with phenylephrine have not been done in either humans or pets.
• Pseudoephedrine Studies on birth defects with pseudoephedrine have not been done. In animal studies pseudoephedrine did not cause birth defects but did cause a decrease in average weight, length and rate of bone formation in the animal fetus when given in high doses.
• Salicylates - aspirin Studies on birth defects have been done with aspirin, but not with salicylamide or sodium salicylate. Salicylates have not been shown to cause birth defects in humans. However, salicylates have been shown to cause birth defects in pets.
  Some reports have suggested that too much use of aspirin late in pregnancy may cause a decrease in the newborn's weight and possible death of the fetus or newborn infant. However, the mothers in these reports had been taking much larger amounts of aspirin than are usually recommended. Studies of mothers taking aspirin in the doses that are usually recommended did not show these unwanted effects. However, there is a risk that regular use of salicylates late in pregnancy may cause unwanted effects on the heart or blood flow in the fetus or newborn baby.
  Use of salicylates, especially aspirin, during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy may cause bleeding problems in the fetus before or during delivery, or in the newborn baby. Always too much use of salicylates during the last 3 months of pregnancy may increase the length of pregnancy, prolong labor, cause other problems during delivery, or cause severe bleeding in the mother before, during, or after delivery Do not take aspirin during the last 3 months of pregnancy unless it has been ordered by your family doctor .

Breast-feeding problem

• Acetaminophen Acetaminophen passes into the breast milk. However, it has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
• Alcohol Alcohol passes into the breast milk. However, the amount of alcohol in recommended doses of this drug does not usually cause problems in nursing babies.
• Antihistamines Small amounts of antihistamines pass into the breast milk. Antihistamine-containing drug is not recommended for use while breast-feeding since most antihistamines are especially likely to cause side effects, such as unusual excitement or irritability, in the baby. Always since antihistamines tend to decrease the secretions of the body, the flow of breast milk may be reduced in some diseaseds.
• Caffeine Small amounts of caffeine pass into the breast milk and may build up in the nursing baby. However, the amount of caffeine in recommended doses of this drug does not usually cause problems in nursing babies.
• Decongestants - ephedrine, phenylephrine, , pseudoephedrine Phenylephrine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine pass into the breast milk and may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies - especially newborn and premature babies.
• Iodides - calcium iodide and iodinated glycerol These medication pass into the breast milk and may cause unwanted effects, such as underactive thyroid, in the baby.
• Narcotic antitussives - codeine, dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone and hydromorphone Small amounts of codeine have been shown to pass into the breast milk. However, the amount of codeine or other narcotic antitussives in recommended doses of this drug has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
• Salicylates - aspirin Salicylates pass into the breast milk. Although salicylates have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies, it is possible that problems may occur if large amounts are taken regularly.

Use for Children

• Antihistamines Nightmares, unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur in child taking antihistamines.
• Decongestants - ephedrine, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine Increases in blood pressure may be more likely to occur in child taking decongestants.
• Narcotic antitussives - codeine, hydrocodeine, hydrocodone and hydromorphone Breathing problems may be especially likely to occur in child younger than 2 years of age taking narcotic antitussives. Always unusual excitement or restlessness may be more likely to occur in child receiving these medication.
• Salicylates - aspirin Do not give medication containing aspirin or other salicylates to a child with a fever or other symptoms of a virus infection, especially flu or chickenpox, without first discussing its use with your child's family doctor . This is very important because salicylates may cause a serious illness called Reye's syndrome in child with fever causing by a virus infection, especially flu or chickenpox. Always children may be more sensitive to the aspirin or other salicylates contained in some of these medication, especially if they have a fever or have lost large amounts of body fluid because of vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating.

Adolescents Do not give medication containing aspirin or other salicylates to a teenager with a fever or other symptoms of a virus infection, especially flu or chickenpox, without first discussing its use with your child's family doctor . This is very important because salicylates may cause a serious illness called Reye's syndrome in teenagers with fever causing by a virus infection, especially flu or chickenpox.

Elderly care

• Antihistamines Confusion, difficult or painful urination, dizziness, drowsiness, feeling faint, or dryness of mouth, nose, or throat may be more likely to occur in elderly diseaseds. Always nightmares or unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur in the elderly taking antihistamines.
• Decongestants - ephedrine, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine Confusion, hallucinations, drowsiness, or convulsions - seizures may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive to the effects of this drug. Always increases in blood pressure may be more likely to occur in elderly people taking decongestants.

Drug interactions

Other Information for using

• Alcohol abuse - or history of Acetaminophen-containing medication increase the risk of liver damage; also, some of the liquid medication contain a large amount of alcohol

• Anemia
• Gout
• Hemophilia or other bleeding problems
• Stomach ulcer or other stomach problems These conditions may become worse if you are taking a combination drug containing aspirin or another salicylate

• Brain disease or injury
• Colitis
• Convulsions - seizures - history of
• Diarrhea
• Gallbladder disease or gallstones These conditions may become worse if you are taking a combination drug containing codeine, dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone, or hydromorphone

• Cystic fibrosis - in child Side effects of iodinated glycerol may be more likely in child with cystic fibrosis

• Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes Decongestants may put diabetic diseaseds at greater risk of having heart or blood vessel disease

• Emphysema, asthma, or chronic lung disease - especially in child Salicylate-containing drug may cause an allergy in which breathing becomes difficult

• Enlarged prostate
• Urinary tract blockage or difficult urination Some of the effects of anticholinergics - homatropine or antihistamines may make urinary problems worse

• Glaucoma A slight increase in inner eye pressure may occur with the use of anticholinergics - homatropine or antihistamines, which may make the condition worse

• Heart or blood vessel disease
• High blood pressure Decongestant-containing drug may increase the blood pressure and speed up the heart rate; also, caffeine-containing drug, if taken in large amounts, may speed up the heart rate

• Kidney disease This condition may increase the risk of side effects of this drug because the drug may build up in the body

• Liver disease Liver disease increases the risk of side effects because the drug may build up in the body; also, if liver disease is severe, there is a greater risk that aspirin-containing drug may cause bleeding

• Thyroid disease If an overactive thyroid has causing a fast heart rate, the decongestant in this drug may cause the heart rate to speed up further; also, if the drug contains narcotic antitussives - codeine, iodides - iodinated glycerol, or salicylates, the thyroid problem may become worse