Triprolidine and Pseudoephedrine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antihistamine decongestant

Generic and brand names: triprolidine and pseudoephedrine, oral; Actifed Cold and Allergy; Allerfrim; Aprodine; Cenafed Plus; Silafed; Sudafed Sinus

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat the symptoms of colds, hay fever, and head congestion.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• diabetes
• an enlarged prostate gland
• glaucoma
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• a peptic (stomach) ulcer
• thyroid disease.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes or follow the directions on the package. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than specified because of the increased risk of side effects.

If you are taking extended-release tablets or capsules, swallow them whole. Because the decongestant in this medicine can cause you to feel excited or active, take the last dose of the day before 6 PM to avoid problems sleeping.

You may take this medicine with food or milk to lessen the chance that it may upset your stomach.

What should I watch out for?

The antihistamine in this medicine may make you drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

The antihistamine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down the central nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your health care provider approves.

The decongestant in this medicine may increase the effects of some diet medicines. Do not take any diet medicines unless your health care provider approves.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. After you stop this medicine, you may continue to be sensitive to the sun for a while. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your health care provider right away.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Mood changes, sore throat, fever, irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, extreme tiredness, weakness, clumsiness, decreased urination.

Other: Drowsiness, heavier phlegm, nervousness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• beta blockers such as timolol (Blocadren), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), acebutolol (Sectral), and pindolol (Visken)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.)
• sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton), amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), and flurazepam (Dalmane)
• stimulants (for example, diet pills)
• tranquilizers such as diazepam (Valium) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan).

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.