What is Airacof?
Codeine is in a group of drugs called narcotics. It is a cough suppressant that affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of codeine, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine is used to treat cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing caused by allergies, the flu, or the common cold.
Codeine will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.
Codeine, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Airacof?
Do not take this medication if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Do not use any cough, cold, allergy, or sleepy medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Codeine, diphenhydramine and phenylephrine are contained in many combination medicines, some available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains codeine, diphenhydramine, or phenylephrine.
Codeine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. This medication should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 2 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Airacof?
Do not take this medication if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take codeine, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine:
- asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems
- heart disease or high blood pressure
- a history of head injury or brain tumor
- glaucoma
- diabetes
- liver or kidney disease
- an enlarged prostate or urination problems
- a seizure disorder
- severe constipation, intestinal blockage, or stomach ulcer
- a pancreas disorder
- adrenal gland disorder such as Addison’s disease
- a thyroid disorder; or
- a history of depression, mental illness, or drug/alcohol addiction
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. However, it could cause breathing problems or addiction/withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes the medicine during late pregnancy. Before you take acetaminophen and codeine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
This medication may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. The use of codeine by some nursing mothers may lead to life-threatening side effects in the baby. Do not use this medication if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Codeine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Codeine should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Codeine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medication.
Artificially-sweetened liquid forms of cold medicine may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this medication if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).
Airacof Side Effects
What are the possible side effects of Airacof?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- confusion, hallucinations, tremors
- ringing in your ears
- extreme weakness or dizziness
- fast, slow, or uneven heart rate
- seizure (convulsions)
- weak or shallow breathing
- easy bruising or bleeding; or
- urinating less than usual or not at all
Less serious side effects include:
- dizziness, drowsiness, headache
- nausea, upset stomach, constipation
- blurred vision; or
- dry mouth, nose, or throat
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.
Airacof Interactions
What other drugs affect Airacof?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by codeine, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
- blood pressure medications
- methyldopa (Aldomet)
- reserpine
- an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others; or
- a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with codeine, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What should I avoid while taking Airacof?
This medication can cause side effects that may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of this medication.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Do not use any cough, cold, allergy, or sleepy medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Codeine, diphenhydramine and phenylephrine are contained in many combination medicines, some available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains codeine, diphenhydramine, or phenylephrine.
Airacof Dosage
How should I take Airacof?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Cough or cold medicine is usually taken for only a short time until your symptoms clear up.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 2 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.
Measure this medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
You may take this medication with or without food. Taking it with food or milk may decrease stomach upset.
This medication may cause dry mouth. You may need to suck on ice chips or hard candy to relieve this side effect.
Drink extra fluids to help loosen the congestion and lubricate your throat while you are taking this medication.
Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of taking this medication. Call your doctor any time if your symptoms get worse or if you also have a fever, headache, or skin rash.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a cold medicine within the past few days.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and freezing.
Keep track of how much of this medicine been used from each new bottle. Codeine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.
What happens if I overdose on Airacof?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of codeine can be fatal.
Overdose can cause confusion, hallucinations, agitation, or seizure (convulsions).
What happens if I miss a dose of Airacof?
Since cough or cold medicine is usually taken only as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Edited from everydayhealth.com