What Is Carbetapentane Guaifenesin?
Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen mucus congestion in your chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through your mouth.
Carbetapentane and guaifenesin is a combination medicine used to treat stuffy nose, cough, and chest congestion caused by the common cold or flu.
This medication will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.
Carbetapentane and guaifenesin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Do not use carbetapentane and guaifenesin 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.
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
Do not use carbetapentane and guaifenesin 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.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to carbetapentane or guaifenesin.
To make sure carbetapentane and guaifenesin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems;
- heart disease or high blood pressure;
- glaucoma;
- diabetes;
- an enlarged prostate or urination problems; or
- overactive thyroid.
Carbetapentane and guaifenesin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Artificially sweetened liquid cough or cold medicine may contain phenylalanine. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU), check the medication label to see if the product contains phenylalanine.
Carbetapentane Guaifenesin Side Effects
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have:
- confusion, hallucinations, feeling restless or nervous;
- tremors; or
- extreme weakness.
- drowsiness, dizziness;
- headache;
- sleep problems (insomnia); or
- nausea.
Carbetapentane Guaifenesin Interactions
Drinking alcohol can increase drowsiness caused by carbetapentane and guaifenesin.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, or allergy medicine. Cough suppressants and expectorants 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 a cough suppressant or expectorant.
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking carbetapentane and guaifenesin with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Other drugs may interact with carbetapentane and guaifenesin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.
Carbetapentane Guaifenesin 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 medication with a full glass of water. Drink extra fluids to help loosen the congestion and lubricate your throat while you are taking this medication.
You may take carbetapentane and guaifenesin with or without food. Taking it with food or milk may decrease stomach upset.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole.
Call 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.
This medication can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you if you have taken a cough medicine within the past few days.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a cough medicine within the past few days.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not allow liquid medicine to freeze.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Since cough or cold medicine is taken 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.