What Is Acrivastine Pseudoephedrine?
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of acrivastine and pseudoephedrine is used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.
Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
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.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, or sleep 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.
Do not use this medicine 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.
Do not use this medicine 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.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acrivastine or pseudoephedrine.
To make sure you can safely take acrivastine and pseudoephedrine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease;
- heart disease or high blood pressure;
- diabetes;
- a thyroid disorder;
- glaucoma;
- an enlarged prostate; or
- problems with urination.
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.
Acrivastine Pseudoephedrine Side Effects
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
- severe dizziness or anxiety;
- confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
- urinating less than usual or not at all;
- easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
- dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, ringing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, trouble breathing, uneven heart rate, seizure).
- blurred vision;
- dry mouth;
- upset stomach, constipation;
- loss of appetite;
- dizziness, drowsiness;
- problems with memory or concentration;
- warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;
- feeling restless or excited (especially in children);
- sleep problems (insomnia); or
- skin rash or itching.
Acrivastine Pseudoephedrine Interactions
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of acrivastine and pseudoephedrine.
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.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, or sleep 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.
Before using acrivastine and pseudoephedrine, 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 acrivastine and pseudoephedrine.
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
- blood pressure medications;
- a diuretic (water pill);
- methyldopa (Aldomet);
- medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome;
- bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol) 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 (Dutoprol, Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others; or
- an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others.
Acrivastine Pseudoephedrine Dosage
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 this medicine with a full glass of water.
Do not take acrivastine and pseudoephedrine 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.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using acrivastine and pseudoephedrine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
This medication can cause unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.
Since cold or allergy medicine is taken 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. 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.
Acrivastine Pseudoephedrine Pictures
