What is Anaplex DM (Brompheniramine/Dextromethorphan/Pse)?

Brompheniramine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).

The combination of brompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine is used to treat sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, cough, itchy or watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other symptoms of allergies and the common cold.

Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.

Brompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Anaplex DM (Brompheniramine/Dextromethorphan/Pse)?

Do not use a cough or cold medicine 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.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take brompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine if you have:

• kidney disease
• diabetes
• glaucoma
• heart disease or high blood pressure
• diabetes
• a thyroid disorder
• emphysema or chronic bronchitis
• an enlarged prostate; or
• problems with urination

This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Brompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Artificially-sweetened liquid forms of cold medicine may contain phenylalanine. This would be important to know if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). Check the ingredients and warnings on the medication label if you are concerned about phenylalanine.

Anaplex DM Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Anaplex DM (Brompheniramine/Dextromethorphan/Pse)?

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 using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• slow, shallow breathing
• confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior
• severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness
• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure)
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
• urinating less than usual or not at all

Less serious side effects may include:

• dry mouth
• nausea, stomach pain, constipation, mild loss of appetite, upset stomach
• blurred vision
• warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• restless or excitability (especially in children)
• skin rash or itching
• dizziness, drowsiness, or headache
• problems with memory or concentration; or
• ringing in your ears

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.

Anaplex DM Interactions

What other drugs affect Anaplex DM (Brompheniramine/Dextromethorphan/Pse)?

Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as sleeping pills, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by brompheniramine.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• a diuretic (water pill), or blood pressure medicine
• medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome
• bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), darifenacin (Enablex), or tolterodine (Detrol)
• aspirin or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan’s Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others)
• a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others; or
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with brompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Anaplex DM (Brompheniramine/Dextromethorphan/Pse)?

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of this medication.

Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor’s advice. Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or sleep medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. 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 an antihistamine, decongestant, or cough suppressant.

Anaplex DM Dosage

How should I take Anaplex DM (Brompheniramine/Dextromethorphan/Pse)?

Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended. Cold medicine is usually taken only for 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.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Measure the liquid form of 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.

Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.

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.

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.

Store the medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on Anaplex DM (Brompheniramine/Dextromethorphan/Pse)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include feeling restless or nervous, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, warmth or tingly feeling, or seizure (convulsions).

What happens if I miss a dose of Anaplex DM (Brompheniramine/Dextromethorphan/Pse)?

Since cough and 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