Generic Name: brompheniramine and phenylephrine (BROM fen IR a meen and FEN il EFF rin)
Brand Names: Alacol, Alenaze-D, Alenaze-D NR, B-Vex D, BPM PE, Brom Tann PE, Bromfed, Bromfed-PD Capsules, BroveX ADT, BroveX PEB, Brovex-D, Children's Cold & Allergy, Dimaphen Elixir, Dimetapp Cold & Allergy, Entre-B, J-Tan D, J-Tan D SR, Phenyl 15/12mg, Phenyl 7.5/6mg, RespaHist II, Rhinabid, Rhinabid PD, Seradex-LA, Tanabid SR, V-Hist, VazoBid, VaZol-D, Vazotab, Zotex-PE
What is Dimaphen Elixir (brompheniramine and phenylephrine)?
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.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of brompheniramine and phenylephrine is used to treat nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose caused by allergies, hay fever, and the common cold.
Brompheniramine and phenylephrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Dimaphen Elixir (brompheniramine and phenylephrine)?
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 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. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to brompheniramine or phenylephrine, or to other decongestants, diet pills, stimulants, or ADHD medications. Do not use brompheniramine and phenylephrine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist about taking brompheniramine and phenylephrine if you have heart disease or high blood pressure, diabetes, a thyroid disorder, glaucoma, kidney disease, an enlarged prostate, or problems with urination.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Dimaphen Elixir (brompheniramine and phenylephrine)?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to brompheniramine or phenylephrine, or to other decongestants, diet pills, stimulants, or ADHD medications. Do not use brompheniramine and phenylephrine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take brompheniramine and phenylephrine if you have:
heart disease or high blood pressure;
diabetes;
a thyroid disorder;
glaucoma;
kidney disease;
an enlarged prostate; or
problems with urination.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether brompheniramine and phenylephrine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Brompheniramine and phenylephrine 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.
How should I take Dimaphen Elixir (brompheniramine and phenylephrine)?
Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Cough or 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 4 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 the medicine with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow it whole. Breaking or opening the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.
Measure liquid 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.
Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Do not take brompheniramine and phenylephrine for longer than 7 days in a row. 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. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take 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.
Overdose symptoms may include feeling restless or nervous, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, warmth or tingly feeling, or seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking Dimaphen Elixir (brompheniramine and phenylephrine)?
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of brompheniramine and phenylephrine. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, allergy, or pain medicine. Antihistamines and decongestants are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains an antihistamine or decongestant.
Avoid taking this medication if you also take diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications). Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.
Dimaphen Elixir (brompheniramine and phenylephrine) side effects
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 a serious side effect such as:
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).
Less serious side effects may include:
drowsiness or dizziness;
blurred vision;
dry mouth, nose, or throat;
mild stomach pain, constipation;
problems with memory or concentration;
feeling restless or excited (especially in children);
sleep problems (insomnia); or
warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin.
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 Dimaphen Elixir (brompheniramine and phenylephrine)?
Before using brompheniramine and phenylephrine, 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 brompheniramine and phenylephrine.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you are using, especially:
medicines to treat high blood pressure;
a beta blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Dutoprol, 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 other drugs may interact with brompheniramine and phenylephrine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More Dimaphen Elixir resources
- Dimaphen Elixir Side Effects (in more detail)
- Dimaphen Elixir Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Dimaphen Elixir Drug Interactions
- Dimaphen Elixir Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Dimaphen - Add your own review/rating
- Alenaze-D Elixir MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Bromfed MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- BroveX-D Suspension MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Entre-B Prescribing Information (FDA)
- J-Tan D Chewable Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Rhinabid Sustained-Release Capsules MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare Dimaphen Elixir with other medications
- Hay Fever
- Nasal Congestion
- Rhinitis
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about brompheniramine and phenylephrine.
See also: Dimaphen side effects (in more detail)
