Comtrex Flu Therapy

Acetaminophen is a medicine that helps reduce pain and lower fever.

Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that helps lessen the effects of histamine, a natural chemical in the body. Histamine can cause symptoms like sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and a runny nose.

Phenylephrine is a decongestant that helps narrow the blood vessels in the nasal passages. When blood vessels are swollen, they can lead to nasal congestion (a stuffy nose).

Comtrex Flu Therapy is a combination medicine used to relieve headache, fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.

Comtrex Flu Therapy may also be used for other purposes not mentioned in this medication guide.

Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. This medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.

Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death.

Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Drop the effervescent tablets into a glass of water (at least 4 ounces, or one-half cup). Stir this mixture and drink all of it right away.

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.

Do not take for longer than 7 days in a row. Stop taking the medicine and call your doctor if you still have a fever after 3 days of use, you still have pain after 7 days (or 5 days if treating a child), if your symptoms get worse, or if you have a skin rash, ongoing headache, or any redness or swelling.

If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon or doctor ahead of time if you have taken this medicine within the past few days.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow liquid medicine to freeze.

Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the last 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Do not take more of this medication than what is recommended. Taking too much acetaminophen can harm your liver or lead to death. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

In rare cases, acetaminophen may lead to a serious skin reaction. Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you notice skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine, or phenylephrine.

Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could happen. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have other medical conditions, especially:

• asthma or COPD, cough with mucus, or cough caused by smoking, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis;
• a blockage in your stomach or intestines;
• liver disease, alcoholism, or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day;
• kidney disease;
• high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, or recent heart attack;
• enlarged prostate or urination problems;
• glaucoma;
• diabetes;
• overactive thyroid;
• pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor); or
• if you take potassium (Cytra, Epiklor, K-Lyte, K-Phos, Kaon, Klor-Con, Polycitra, Urocit-K).

It is not known whether Comtrex Flu Therapy will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine without your doctor's advice if you are pregnant.

This medication may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Antihistamines and decongestants may also slow breast milk production. Do not use this medicine without your doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Get emergency medical help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may lead to a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This can happen even if you have taken acetaminophen before without any issues. Stop taking Comtrex Flu Therapy and call your doctor immediately if you experience skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. If you have this type of reaction, you should never take any medicine that contains acetaminophen again.

This medicine can cause serious side effects. Stop using it and call your doctor right away if you have:

• chest pain, rapid pulse, fast or irregular heart rate;
• confusion, hallucinations, severe nervousness;
• tremor, seizure (convulsions);
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
• little or no urinating;
• nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes); or
• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, seizure).

Side effects like dry mouth, constipation, and confusion may be more likely in older adults.

Common side effects of Comtrex Flu Therapy may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness;
• mild headache, blurred vision;
• dry mouth, nose, or throat;
• constipation;
• feeling nervous; or
• sleep problems (insomnia);

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Since Comtrex Flu Therapy is taken as needed, you might not have a regular 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 for the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1 800 222 1222. Taking too much acetaminophen can be deadly.

The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include not wanting to eat, feeling sick to your stomach, throwing up, stomach pain, sweating, and feeling confused or weak. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medicine. Acetaminophen (sometimes called APAP) is found in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can result in too much acetaminophen, which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may raise your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen and can increase certain side effects of chlorpheniramine.

This medicine may cause blurry vision or affect your thinking or reactions. Be cautious if you drive or do anything that needs you to be alert and see clearly.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using Comtrex Flu Therapy if you are taking any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. This medication guide does not list all possible interactions.

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can make these effects worse. Ask your doctor before taking Comtrex Flu Therapy with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.