Brand name:

Sudafed Cold & Cough

Pronounced: SUE-da-fed

Generic ingredients: Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan hydrobromide, Guaifenesin, Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride

What this drug is used for

Sudafed Cold & Cough, like other Sudafed products, relieves stuffy nose. In addition, the acetaminophen it contains will combat the minor aches and pains, headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, and fever that often accompany a common cold. Two other ingredients relieve cough and loosen bronchial mucus, making it easier to cough up.

How should you take this medication?

The usual dose for adults and children 12 years and over is 2 pills every 4 hours, up to a maximum of 8 pills each 24 hours. For children under 12, consult your doctor.

* STORAGE
Store at room temperature in a dry place. Protect from light.

Do not take this medication if...

Unless your doctor approves, do not take Sudafed Cold & Cough if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, or an enlarged prostate gland.

Also check with your doctor before using this product for the type of chronic cough that results from smoking, asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema, or for a cough that brings up lots of phlegm.

Special warnings about this medication

If you become dizzy or nervous, or have trouble sleeping, stop taking Sudafed Cold & Cough and check with your doctor.

Do not take this product for more than 10 days. If your symptoms do not improve or include a fever that lasts more than 3 days--or if new symptoms appear--stop taking the product and call your doctor.

You should also stop using the product and check with your doctor immediately if you have a severe sore throat that lasts for more than 2 days, or if your sore throat is accompanied or followed by fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting. Do likewise if you have a cough that lasts for more than 7 days or tends to come back, or your cough is accompanied by rash, lasting headache, and fever.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking this medication

Do not use Sudafed Cold & Cough within 2 weeks of taking a drug classified as an MAO inhibitor, such as the antidepressants Nardil and Parnate. Do not combine this product with other remedies that contain acetaminophen, such as the Tylenol line of products.

If you generally drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages a day, ask your doctor about taking this product. The acetaminophen it contains can damage your liver.