Infants\' Pain Reliever Cold Oral

Drugs & Medications

One ingredient in this product is acetaminophen. Taking too much acetaminophen may cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Adults should not take more than 4000 milligrams (4 grams) of acetaminophen a day. If you have liver problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist for a safe dosage of this medication. Daily use of alcohol, especially when combined with acetaminophen, may increase your risk for liver damage. Avoid alcohol. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of liver damage, including: dark urine, persistent nausea/vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, extreme tiredness, or yellowing eyes/skin.
Acetaminophen is an ingredient found in many nonprescription products and in some combination prescription medications (such as pain/fever drugs or cough-and-cold products). Carefully check the labels on all your medicines because they may also contain acetaminophen. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. Get medical help right away if you have taken more than 4000 milligrams of acetaminophen a day, even if you feel well.

This combination medication is used to temporarily treat cough, stuffy nose, body aches, and other symptoms (e.g., fever, headache, sore throat) caused by the common cold, flu, or other breathing illnesses (e.g., sinusitis, bronchitis). Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that affects a certain part of the brain (cough center), reducing the urge to cough. Decongestants help to relieve stuffy nose symptoms. This product also contains acetaminophen, a non-aspirin pain reliever and fever reducer.
This medication is usually not used for ongoing coughs from smoking, asthma, or other long-term breathing problems (e.g., emphysema), or for coughs with a lot of mucus, unless directed by your doctor.
Cough-and-cold products have not been shown to be safe or effective in children younger than 6 years. Therefore, do not use this product to treat cold symptoms in children younger than 6 years unless specifically directed by the doctor. Some products (such as long-acting tablets/capsules) are not recommended for use in children younger than 12 years. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details about using your product safely.
These products do not cure or shorten the length of the common cold and may cause serious side effects. To decrease the risk for serious side effects, carefully follow all dosage directions. Do not use this product to make a child sleepy. Do not give other cough-and-cold medication that might contain the same or similar ingredients (see also Drug Interactions section). Ask the doctor or pharmacist about other ways to relieve cough and cold symptoms (such as drinking enough fluids, using a humidifier or saline nose drops/spray).

How to use Infants\' Pain Reliever Cold Oral
See also Warning section.
If you are taking the over-the-counter product, read all directions on the product package before taking this medication. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food or as directed by your doctor. This medication can be taken with food or milk if stomach upset occurs.
If you are using a liquid form, carefully measure your prescribed dose using a medication-measuring device or spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. If your liquid form is a suspension, shake the bottle well before each dose.
Chewable forms of this medication should be chewed thoroughly before swallowing.
The dosage is based on your age. Do not increase your dose or take this medication more often than directed without your doctor\'s approval. Improper use of this medication (abuse) may result in serious harm (e.g., brain damage, seizure, death).
Tell your doctor if your condition persists for more than 1 week, if it worsens, or if it occurs with rash, persistent headache, or fever lasting more than 3 days. These may be symptoms of a serious medical problem and should be checked by a doctor.

See also Warning section.
Dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, nervousness, or trouble sleeping may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, hallucinations), shaking (tremors), weakness.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, fast/irregular heartbeat.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

See also Warning section.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to any of its ingredients; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: breathing problems (e.g., asthma, emphysema), diabetes, glaucoma, heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney problems, liver disease, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), trouble urinating (e.g., due to enlarged prostate), use/abuse of alcohol.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
Liquid or chewable forms of this product may contain sugar or aspartame. Liquid forms may also contain alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, liver disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), or any other condition that requires you to limit/avoid these substances in your diet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
The elderly may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug, especially dizziness and mental/mood changes.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only if clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
This medication may pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

See also Warning section.
If you are taking this product under your doctor\'s direction, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
This product should not be used with the following medications because very serious (rarely fatal) interactions may occur: MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine), sibutramine.
If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this medication. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors within 2 weeks before, during, and after taking this medication.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially: anti-seizure medications (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital), beta blockers (e.g., metoprolol, atenolol), \"blood thinners\" (e.g., warfarin), guanethidine, isoniazid, methyldopa, phenothiazines (e.g., chlorpromazine), reserpine, tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, desipramine).
The ingredients in this product are available in many prescription and nonprescription products. Check the labels on all your medications carefully to make sure you are not taking more than one product with the same ingredient(s). Consult your pharmacist if you are unsure of the ingredients in any of your medications.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., other cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., other cough-and-cold products, diet aids) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
This medication may interfere with certain urine laboratory tests (e.g., 5-HIAA levels), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: agitation, confusion, hallucinations, seizures.

NOTES:
Keep all regular medical and laboratory appointments.

MISSED DOSE:
If your doctor has directed you to take this medication on a regular schedule and you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:
Store as directed on the package label. Protect from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. If you have any questions about storage, ask your pharmacist. Keep all drug products away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised April 2012. Copyright(c) 2012 First Databank, Inc.