What is the most important information I should know about guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine?
Hydrocodone can slow or stop your breathing, and may be habit-forming. MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription.
This medicine is not for use in anyone under 18.
What is guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine?
Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen congestion in your chest and throat.
Hydrocodone is a narcotic cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
Guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine is a combination medicine used to treat cough, stuffy nose, and sinus congestion caused by allergies or the common cold.
This medicine will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking or emphysema.
Guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to guaifenesin, hydrocodone, or phenylephrine.
Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
Do not give this medicine to anyone younger than 18 years old.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- asthma or other breathing disorder;
- heart disease or high blood pressure;
- a head injury or brain tumor;
- diabetes;
- glaucoma;
- liver or kidney disease;
- a thyroid disorder; or
- enlarged prostate or urination problems.
If you use hydrocodone while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
You should not breast-feed while using guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine.
How should I take guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed.
Hydrocodone may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE OF NARCOTIC MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Selling or giving away the medicine is against the law.
Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of your medicine. Hydrocodone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since this medicine is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of hydrocodone can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include confusion, extreme weakness, pinpoint pupils, cold and clammy skin, weak pulse, slow breathing, fainting, or breathing that stops.
What should I avoid while taking guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine?
Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.
Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, cough, or sleep medicine. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug.
What are the possible side effects of guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Like other narcotic medications, hydrocodone can slow your breathing. Death may occur if breathing becomes too weak.
A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe dizziness or drowsiness;
- noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing;
- severe restlessness or nervousness;
- severe constipation;
- pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest; or
- painful or difficult urination.
Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are overweight, malnourished, or debilitated.
Common side effects may include:
- mild drowsiness;
- dryness of your eyes, nose, and mouth;
- blurred vision; or
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine?
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Other drugs may interact with guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2018 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision date: 1/22/2018.
