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Nycoff (Oral)
Generic name: dextromethorphan
Brand names: Babee Cof Syrup, Benylin Pediatric Formula, Children's Pedia Care, Creomulsion, Creo-Terpin, Delsym, Dexalone, ElixSure Cough Children's, Father John's Medicine, Miltuss, Nycoff, Pediacare, Pediacare Long-Acting Cough, Robafen Cough, Robitussin, Silphen DM, Simply Cough, St. Joseph, Vicks 44 Cough Relief
Uses for Nycoff
Dextromethorphan is used to help relieve coughs caused by colds or the flu. It should not be used for chronic coughs that happen with smoking, asthma, or emphysema, or when there is a lot of mucus or phlegm with the cough.
Dextromethorphan works by directly affecting the cough center in the brain.
This medicine is available without a prescription.
Do not give any over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicine to a baby or child under 4 years old. Using these medicines in very young children could lead to serious or possibly life-threatening side effects.
This section was rewritten for readability and reviewed for meaning.
Precautions while using Nycoff
If your cough does not get better after 7 days, if your sore throat does not improve after 2 days, if you have a high fever, skin rash, or a headache that keeps coming back with the cough, or if you have asthma or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor. These signs could mean you have other health issues.
Dissolve lozenges in your mouth carefully to reduce the risk of choking.
This section was rewritten for readability and reviewed for meaning.
Before using Nycoff
In deciding to use a medicine, you need to think about the risks and benefits. This is a decision you will make with your doctor. For this medicine, consider the following:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, inform your healthcare professional about any other allergies you may have, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
There is no specific information comparing the use of dextromethorphan in children to other age groups, but this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or issues in children 4 years of age and older than it does in adults.
Do not give any over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicine to a baby or child under 4 years of age. Using these medicines in very young children might cause serious or possibly life-threatening side effects.
Geriatric
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of dextromethorphan in the elderly to other age groups.
Breast Feeding
Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.
Interactions with Medicines
Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in some cases, two different medicines may be used together even if there might be an interaction. In these cases, your doctor may want to adjust the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When taking this medicine, it is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions are significant but may not include all possibilities.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Clorgyline
- Furazolidone
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Moclobemide
- Nialamide
- Ozanimod
- Pargyline
- Phenelzine
- Procarbazine
- Rasagiline
- Safinamide
- Selegiline
- Toloxatone
- Tranylcypromine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you take one or both of the medicines.
- Adagrasib
- Alfentanil
- Almotriptan
- Amineptine
- Amitriptyline
- Amitriptylinoxide
- Amoxapine
- Amphetamine
- Benzhydrocodone
- Benzphetamine
- Brompheniramine
- Buprenorphine
- Bupropion
- Buspirone
- Butorphanol
- Carbamazepine
- Chlorpheniramine
- Citalopram
- Clomipramine
- Cocaine
- Codeine
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Desipramine
- Desvenlafaxine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Dibenzepin
- Difenoxin
- Dihydrocodeine
- Diphenoxylate
- Dolasetron
- Doxepin
- Duloxetine
- Eletriptan
- Escitalopram
- Ethylmorphine
- Fedratinib
- Fenfluramine
- Fentanyl
- Fluoxetine
- Fluvoxamine
- Frovatriptan
- Gepirone
- Givosiran
- Granisetron
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Hydroxyamphetamine
- Hydroxytryptophan
- Imipramine
- Ketobemidone
- Lasmiditan
- Levomilnacipran
- Levorphanol
- Linezolid
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Lithium
- Lofepramine
- Lorcaserin
- Melitracen
- Memantine
- Meperidine
- Metaxalone
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- Methylene Blue
- Milnacipran
- Mirtazapine
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Nalbuphine
- Naratriptan
- Nefazodone
- Nicomorphine
- Nortriptyline
- Ondansetron
- Opipramol
- Opium
- Opium Alkaloids
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Palonosetron
- Panobinostat
- Papaveretum
- Paregoric
- Paroxetine
- Pentazocine
- Piritramide
- Protriptyline
- Remifentanil
- Rizatriptan
- Rolapitant
- Sertraline
- Sibutramine
- St John's Wort
- Sufentanil
- Sumatriptan
- Tapentadol
- Tianeptine
- Tilidine
- Tocilizumab
- Tramadol
- Trazodone
- Trimipramine
- Tryptophan
- Venlafaxine
- Vilazodone
- Vortioxetine
- Ziprasidone
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you take one or both of the medicines.
- Abiraterone Acetate
- Haloperidol
- Quinidine
- Terbinafine
Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol
Some medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or specific types of food, as interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions. The following interactions are significant but may not include all possibilities.
Other Medical Problems
Other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Asthma—Since dextromethorphan decreases coughing, it can make it harder to get rid of mucus that builds up in the lungs and airways during asthma.
- Diabetes (sugar diabetes)—Some products contain sugar and may affect blood glucose control.
- Liver disease—Dextromethorphan may build up in the body and cause unwanted effects.
- Chronic bronchitis or
- Emphysema or
- Mucus or phlegm with cough—Since dextromethorphan decreases coughing, it can make it harder to get rid of mucus that may collect in the lungs and airways with these conditions.
- Slowed breathing—Dextromethorphan may further slow the rate of breathing.
This section was rewritten for readability and reviewed for meaning.
Side Effects of Nycoff
Along with its necessary effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may occur, but if they do, they may require medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Symptoms of overdose
- Blurred vision
- confusion
- difficulty in urination
- drowsiness or dizziness
- nausea or vomiting (severe)
- shakiness and unsteady walk
- slowed breathing
- unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability (severe)
Some side effects may occur that typically do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Additionally, your health care professional may be able to provide ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome, or if you have any questions about them:
Less common or rare
- Confusion
- constipation
- dizziness (mild)
- drowsiness (mild)
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- stomach pain
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In the U.S.
- Babee Cof Syrup
- Benylin Pediatric Formula
- Children's Pedia Care
- Creomulsion
- Creo-Terpin
- Delsym
- Dexalone
- ElixSure Cough Children's
- Father John's Medicine
- Miltuss
- Nycoff
- Pediacare
- Pediacare Long-Acting Cough
- Robafen Cough
- Robitussin
- Silphen DM
- Simply Cough
- St. Joseph
- Vicks 44 Cough Relief
Available Dosage Forms:
- Suspension, Extended Release
- Solution
- Tablet
- Liquid
- Capsule, Liquid Filled
- Elixir
- Syrup
Therapeutic Class: Antitussive
This section was rewritten for readability and reviewed for meaning.
Proper use of Nycoff
Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on a low-sodium, low-sugar, or any other special diet. Most medicines contain more than their active ingredient, and many liquid medicines contain alcohol.
Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor or the directions on the label. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor or the label says. Although this effect has happened only rarely, dextromethorphan has become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence) in some persons who used too much for a long time.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For lozenge dosage form: For cough: Adults and children 12 years of age and older—5 to 15 mg every two to four hours, as needed. Children 6 to 12 years of age—5 to 15 mg every two to six hours, as needed. Children 4 to 6 years of age—5 mg every four hours, as needed. Children and infants up to 4 years of age—Use is not recommended.
- For syrup dosage form: For cough: Adults and children 12 years of age and older—30 mg every six to eight hours, as needed. Children 6 to 12 years of age—7 mg every four hours or 15 mg every six to eight hours, as needed. Children 4 to 6 years of age—3.5 mg every four hours or 7.5 mg every six to eight hours, as needed. Children and infants up to 4 years of age—Use is not recommended.
- For extended-release oral suspension dosage form: For cough: Adults and children 12 years of age and older—60 mg every twelve hours, as needed. Children 6 to 12 years of age—30 mg every twelve hours, as needed. Children 4 to 6 years of age—15 mg every twelve hours, as needed. Children and infants up to 4 years of age—Use is not recommended.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
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