Chlorpheniramine Maleate

Chlorpheniramine Maleate is an antiallergic medication used in the treatment of various allergic conditions. It provides relief from runny nose, sneezing, itching and watery eyes. Chlorpheniramine Maleate should be taken with or without food, but take it at the same time every day to get the most benefit. It should be taken as your doctor's advice. The dose and how often you take it depends on what you are taking it for. Your doctor will decide how much you need to improve your symptoms. You should take this medicine for as long as it is prescribed for you. Sleepiness or drowsiness is the most common side effect of this medicine. Avoid driving or attention-seeking activity. In some cases, it may cause dryness of mouth, so it is advised to drink more water.

Chlorpheniramine Maleate is an antiallergic medication. When your body is exposed to an allergen (pollen, animal dander, house dust etc.), it produces a chemical called histamine. This causes watery eyes, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, skin rashes, itching etc. Chlorpheniramine Maleate works by blocking the action of histamine, thereby relieving these symptoms.

• Urticaria
• Sensitivity reactions
• Angioneurotic edema
• Vasomotor rhinitis
• Cough
• Common cold
• Motion sickness
• Other allergic conditions

Chlorpheniramine Maleate is an alkylamine antihistamine. It is one of the most potent histamine H1-receptor blocking agents which is used as a potent antihistamine. This generally causes less sedation than promethazine. Chlorpheniramine Maleate exerts its effects by blocking H1-receptor competitively.

Chlorpheniramine competitively blocks H1-receptor sites on tissues. It prevents the action of histamine, thereby relieving allergy symptoms.

Adult Dose (Oral): 4 mg every 4-6 hours, maximum 24 mg daily.

Adult Dose (Parenteral): Emergency treatment of anaphylactic shock: 10-20 mg IM, SC, or slow IV (over 1 min), max 40 mg/day.

Pediatric Dose (Oral):

Pediatric Dose (Parenteral): 87.5 mcg/kg SC 4 times daily.

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Chlorpheniramine Maleate may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

If you miss a dose of Chlorpheniramine Maleate, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

Common Side Effects:

• Dry mouth
• Sleepiness
• Drowsiness
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Muscular weakness
• Gastrointestinal upset

• [UNSAFE] Chlorpheniramine Maleate may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
• Avoid driving or operating dangerous machinery as it may decrease alertness.
• Avoid consuming alcohol as it may cause excessive sleepiness or drowsiness.
• Use with caution in patients with glaucoma and prostatic hypertrophy.
• Avoid during the first trimester of pregnancy.

• Hypersensitivity
• Newborn or premature infants

Potentiates sedative effect of psychotropic drugs (barbiturates, hypnotics, opioid analgesics, anxiolytics and antipsychotics). Interaction with alcohol could be dangerous (sedation/excitation). Incompatible with calcium chloride, kanamycin sulfate, noradrenaline acid tartrate, pentobarbital sodium, and meglumine adipiodone.

[UNSAFE] Chlorpheniramine Maleate may cause excessive drowsiness with alcohol.

[SAFE IF PRESCRIBED] Chlorpheniramine Maleate is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown low or no adverse effects to the developing baby; however, there are limited human studies. Pregnancy Category B. Avoid use during the first trimester of pregnancy.

[SAFE IF PRESCRIBED] Chlorpheniramine Maleate is probably safe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug does not represent any significant risk to the baby. Larger doses or prolonged use may cause sleepiness and other effects in the baby.

Pediatric dose: 1-2 years: 1 mg twice daily; 2-5 years: 1 mg every 4-6 hours (max 6 mg/day); 6-12 years: 2 mg every 4-6 hours (max 12 mg/day). Use is not recommended in children below 1 year.

Limited information is available regarding dose adjustment for elderly patients.

[SAFE IF PRESCRIBED] Chlorpheniramine Maleate is probably safe to use in patients with kidney disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment may not be needed. Please consult your doctor. May cause excessive sleepiness in patients with end stage kidney disease.

[CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR] There is limited information available on the use of Chlorpheniramine Maleate in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.

Overdose symptoms: CNS depression (sedation, apnea, CV collapse), CNS stimulation (insomnia, hallucinations, tremors, convulsions), tinnitus, blurred vision, dizziness, ataxia, hypotension. Stimulation and atropine-like signs (dry mouth, fixed dilated pupils, flushing, hyperthermia, GI symptoms) are more likely in children.

Store in a cool (below 25°C) and dry place protected from light. Keep out of the reach of children.

Chlorpheniramine Maleate