Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine

Generic name: acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine [ a-SEET-oh-MIN-oh-fen, DEX-troe-me-THOR-fan, gwye-FEN-e-sin, FEN-il-EFF-rin ]
Brand names: DayQuil Severe Cold and Flu, Mucinex Children's Cold, Cough and Sore Throat, Sudafed PE Cold and Cough, Tylenol Cold and Flu Severe, ... show all 48 brands Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Severe, Delsym Cough Plus Cold Day Time, Mucinex Fast-Max Severe Cold, Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Severe Daytime, Non-Pseudo Cold Relief, Phenflu DM, Cold and Cough PE, Cold Head Congestion Severe Daytime, Cold Multi-Symptom Severe Daytime Cool Ice, Mucinex Children's Multi-Symptom Cold and Fever, Mucinex Fast-Max Cold, Flu and Sore Throat, Mucinex Fast-Max Severe Congestion and Cold, Mucinex Children's Cold, Cough and Sore Throat, Adult Cold, Flu and Sore Throat, Cold and Flu Severe, Mucinex Sinus-Max Severe Congestion Relief, Sudafed PE Pressure+Pain+Cold, Delsym Cough + Cold Daytime, Severe Day Time Cold and Flu, Mucinex Fast-Max Cold and Flu, Mucinex Sinus-Max Pressure, Pain and Cough, Mucinex Children's Multi-Symptom Cough, Cold and Fever, Mucinex Fast-Max Cold, Flu and Sore Throat Clear and Cool, Severe Cold Maximum Strength, Mucus Relief Cold, Flu and Sore Throat, Mucinex Fast-Max Cold and Flu Arctic Burst, Mucinex Children Multi-Symptom Cold Sore throat Very Berry, Mucinex Children's Multisymptom Cold, Flu and Sore Throat, Mucinex Junior Cold and Flu, Mucinex FreeFrom Cold and Flu Daytime, DayQuil Severe + Vicks VapoCOOL Cold and Flu, Sudafed PE Head Congestion+Flu Severe, Alka-Seltzer Plus Severe Cold And Flu Day, Daytime Severe Cold and Flu Relief, Mucinex severe Cold and Flu Maximum Strength
Dosage forms: oral capsule (325 mg-10 mg-200 mg-5 mg), oral liquid (325 mg-10 mg-200 mg-5 mg/10 mL; 325 mg-10 mg-200 mg-5 mg/15 mL; 650 mg-20 mg-400 mg-10 mg/20 mL), ... show all 3 dosage forms oral tablet (325 mg-10 mg-100 mg-5 mg; 325 mg-10 mg-200 mg-5 mg)
Drug class: Upper respiratory combinations

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Sep 6, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine?

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer.

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

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen congestion in your chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through your mouth.

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

Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine is a combination medicine used to treat headache, fever, body aches, cough, chest congestion, stuffy nose, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.

acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.

Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen.

This medicine may cause serious side effects. Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• chest pain, fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;

• severe dizziness, feeling like you might pass out;

• mood changes, confusion, hallucinations;

• tremor, seizure (convulsions);

• fever;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes); or

• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, chest pain, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Common side effects of acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine may include:

• dizziness, weakness;

• mild headache;

• mild nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach;

• dry mouth, nose, or throat;

• feeling nervous, restless, irritable, or anxious; or

• sleep problems (insomnia).

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.

Warnings

Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

Before taking this medicine

Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, or phenylephrine.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have other medical conditions, especially:

• liver disease, alcoholism, or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day;

• high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, or recent heart attack;

• diabetes;

• glaucoma;

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

• enlarged prostate or urination problems;

• cough with mucus, or cough caused by emphysema or chronic bronchitis;

• pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor); or

• overactive thyroid.

It is not known whether acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant.

Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Decongestants may also slow breast milk production. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Artificially sweetened liquid medicine may contain phenylalanine. Check the medication label if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

How should I take acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, 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. This medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.

Do not take more of this medication than recommended. An acetaminophen overdose can damage your liver or cause death.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough or cold medicine in very young children.

Measure liquid medicine with a special dose measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Dissolve one packet of the powder in at least 8 ounces of hot water. Stir and sip drink immediately while the liquid is hot.

Do not take for longer than 7 days in a row. Stop taking the medicine and call your doctor if you still have a fever after 3 days of use, you still have pain after 7 days (or 5 days if treating a child), if your symptoms get worse, or if you have a skin rash, ongoing headache, or any redness or swelling.

If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon or doctor ahead of time if you have taken this medicine within the past few days.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow liquid medicine to freeze.

Related/similar drugs

diphenhydramine, Benadryl, chlorpheniramine, amantadine, Tamiflu, oseltamivir, Promethazine DM, Banophen, echinacea, Xofluza

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine 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 acetaminophen can be fatal.

The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine?

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while you are taking acetaminophen.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP.

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What other drugs will affect acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine?

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Further information

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.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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